God who is the only wise God (Jude 1:25, Romans 16:27) has supplied His children with spiritual gifts.
Sadly in our day, because of a perversion of God’s plan and immaturity of many believers, people tend not to see that the gifts of the Spirit and fruit of the Spirit are intended to be complementary in the life of believers.
Today’s devotional is a reminder about the true purpose of spiritual gifts and how they can enable us to bear fruit for God and grow in character as described in scripture.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS:
- Confirm and make you blameless until Jesus Christ returns
1 Corinthians 1:4-9: I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.(NLT)
- Help you to bear spiritual fruit and provide and opportunity for personal pruning
John 15:1-2: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.(NLT)
- Edify the body of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:4-7: There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.(NLT)
1 Peter 4:10: God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.(NLT)
- Give glory to God
Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.(NLT)
1 Peter 4:11: Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.(NLT)
- Help you to save yourself and your hearers.
1 Timothy 4:14-16: Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.(NLT)
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for showing me the purpose of spiritual gifts. Please empower me afresh and make me to recognize my specific giftings. Please give me the grace for a closer walk with you so that your gifts can truly fulfil the purpose for which you put them in my life. Without you Lord, I can do nothing but with you Lord, I can become all you want me to be. In Jesus name. Amen.