Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Let’s explore the purposeful gifts that the Holy Spirit gives.

Today’s scripture, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (NLT), explains…
[4] There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. [5] There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. [6] God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. [7] A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

Consider…
When my children were young, I made it a point to include an educational gift in their bounty of gifts for birthdays or Christmas. My Intent was to stimulate a passion for learning by providing something they would enjoy playing with, which also developed their minds.

Today, I make it a point to give spiritually based gifts to others, especially my children and grandchildren. My Intent is to inspire a deeper relationship with God.

Many Christians are enamored with discovering and deploying their Spiritual gifts. But I wonder what is their motivation finding out how God has gifted them? I say that because at times there appears to be a greater obsession with the gift than the giver.

This makes me think of Romans 1:25 (NLT) which says…
[25] They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

Unfortunately this indictment can be levied against many of us as well. We worship what God gives us rather than Him as the giver.

That reminds me of old James Cleveland lyrics…

When we get a little money
And get up on our feet
Why do we change?

Whatever God gave you
It’s no more than you need,
Why can’t you, remain the same?

Today can be as bright
As a noonday sun
Tomorrow you can wake up
And everything you have is gone

Don’t forget to remember where all your blessings come from

Brother James’ musical admonition is underscored by Jesus’ brother in James 1:16-17 (NLT)
[16] So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. [17] Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

I think we all agree that everything good and perfect comes from God! However, do we recognize that He sent/sends everything through His Son and Spirit for a reason?

This is important to understand because it shows us God does His work through His children and by His Spirit. It’s part of His plan.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) affirms…
[10] For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Which brings me to the message that the Holy Spirit wanted me emphasize today. Verse 7 from today’s scripture is the fulcrum of spiritual gifts. It says…
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

Spiritual gifts were/are purposely given to edify others for God.

The Holy Spirit showed me God wants us to live in accordance with Romans 14:19 (KJV), which exhorts…
[19] Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

If we’re ‘fat and happy’ with what God has given us, while others around are ‘starving and deprived’, we need to read Galatians 5:13 (NLT)…
[13] For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

God is more interested in our service than our satisfaction. Thus, we’re blessed to be His blessing.

1 Peter 4:10 (NLT), explains it this way…
[10] God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

To illustrate this expectation, God guided me to Acts of the Apostles 2:4-6 (NLT), which says…
[4] And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. [5] At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. [6] When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

Notice, the Holy Spirit gave everyone on one accord for the Lord the ability to speak, and others outside of them heard God’s message in their own language. These people of God weren’t gifted with tongues to talk among themselves, they were gifted to speak to others on the outside in languages they can understand.

Wow! 🤯. The Holy Spirit just showed me an amazingly simple parallel. Think about explaining things to a toddler, you don’t use big words, you use their words. That’s all that happened, God gave His people the ability to use familiar words that people can understand.

This reminds me of Mark 4:10-11 (NLT), which reveals…
[10] Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. [11] He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,

I believe when God wants to reach outsiders, He gifts His insiders with what will connect with the outsiders.

So as you seek discover and hone your spiritual gift, don’t forget to remember that it was purposely given by the Holy Spirit to help you serve others for God!

As I wrote that, I imagined a restaurant. A server’s job is provide what has been prepared, and tend to the ancillary needs of the patron, on behalf of the restaurant. Similarly, our job as God’s servants is to provide what He has prepared, and tend to the ancillary needs of others, on His behalf.

If you want to truly discover, and deploy, your spiritual gift, simply tell the Lord today’s song lyrics…

Lord, I’m available to You
My will I give to You
I’ll do what You say to
Use me Lord to show someone the way and enable me to say
My storage is empty and I am available to You

And remember, your spiritual gift is given so you can help others. Use it well to serve others!

Today’s song is…
I’m Available To You

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)