Gifts

Romans 12:6-8 – In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. (NLT)

When we think of gifts for women, we probably think of flowers, candy, etc. But what about a hand plough? Or maybe a wheelbarrow? I know a woman who got these last two as gifts. A hand plough as a gift for a woman?

God gives Christians various gifts. Some may be just what we expected, but others may be as unexpected as the hand plough that the woman received. Today's Scripture verses tell of some of the spiritual gifts God gives to His people. All of them are gifts for Him to use through us. In other words, they are tools in His hands. We can probably figure out what our talents are, and we may think that those are our gifts, but God may have more gifts than these in store for each of us. They may be gifts for Him to use — gifts which we might rather not make available for Him. We may not even see how these gifts can be used through us.

One company makes a variety of outdoor tools, like hedge trimmers, that all use the same battery. What if someone received all of the tools available, but noticed that the battery was not included? There is no way that these tools could be used. In the same way, when we try — in our own power — to use the gifts that God gives us, the work will be harder or impossible — the "battery" is missing. But God promises to provide the power — the Holy Spirit — so that the gifts are not powered by us but by the Holy Spirit.

Thought: Let us accept every gift God has for us, knowing He is in control and will supply what we need for His use.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we don't accept all the gifts You give us. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who provides the power we need to do Your will. Amen.

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