Tuesday, May 3 – 1 Corinthians 12:7

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Good news! It turns out your mom was right—you’re gifted!

Every person who trusts in Jesus is given a gift for the common good, for the building up of Christ’s church. And it’s important to understand what your giftedness means. Spiritual gifts are spiritual in nature. You can’t get them from your parents’ DNA, and you can’t order them through Amazon. They are given. Like salvation, you don’t earn spiritual gifts. They are free gifts from God. Since they’re gifts from God, they are also empowered by God. These gifts can’t be explained by human goodness or achievement. That’s one way we know they’re spiritual gifts! Spiritual gifts are for God’s glory, not ours. And spiritual gifts are meant for service.

Think about it like this. When you take the time to choose a gift for someone, you hope they use it. You’d be disappointed if you bought someone a gift that you know they could really use, and they never used it. How much more important is it that God picked out a gift to give you so you could join Him in His kingdom work? God is at work in the world, and He lets us step into that work with Him. He calls us to help and gives us an important role.

• The HCSB translation puts it this way: “A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial.” What does the phrase “demonstration of the Spirit” tell you about how we are to serve the church?
• Have you ever sought out how you might serve with your gifts at our church? Why or why not?
• Thank God for the body of Christ. Ask Him to help you know how He has gifted you to serve the body. Ask Him for an opportunity to find a place of service where you might benefit our church.