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Don't Be Ignorant of God's Gifts

by Jerry Ousley  
5/08/2010 / Christian Living

Don't you just love getting gifts? As a child I couldn't wait to open gifts on Christmas morning. With eagerness I'd be up extra early, sometimes stuck waiting for everyone else to get out of bed so we could tear into the mysteries behind those wrappings.

Birthdays were great too. Even though our family was probably considered to be poor, Mom and Dad always managed to get us something and it was always special.

As a parent the focus shifts to the children. Don't get me wrong; it's still special to get gifts. But somehow our own receiving takes a back seat to watching our children open up those boxes and we reminisce in our own memories.

Today our children are now parents. Man, you just have to experience it for yourself to know how amazing it is to watch those grandchildren open their gifts. To think that these little ones are dependants of our own children is remarkable.

However, as I said, we still like getting gifts. They are the result of people we love and care for, who also love and care for us, listening to our little hints about what we'd like to have. No matter how much we might protest deep down inside we all like getting gifts. Now come on you know it's true!

The Bible talks a lot about gifts. We've discussed somewhat about this before but I'd like to just say a bit more about it. When we think of gifts from God we normally think first about those spiritual gifts as found in 1 Corinthians 12. There's a lot of discussion, disagreement and often fear and apprehension when this subject comes up. That's not what the Lord has put on my heart to talk about today however. The spiritual gifts are only one aspect of the gifts God has given us. There are indeed those spiritual gifts but there are also office gifts; you know, like pastor, evangelist, teacher, apostle, prophet and so forth. In the office gifts there's one that seems to be greatly miscalculated and that's the gift of helps. This office gift encompasses those who work in administration and aid. Even though you don't hear much about those gifted in these areas they are vital and what would we do without those folks?

Then there are also motivational and personal gifts given us by the Lord. These gifts cover things we normally describe as our personalities. I believe that most of these gifts are placed within us at birth by God Himself. They are raw and need development and expression but once we come to Jesus Christ then these gifts enhance whatever office gifts and spiritual gifts granted us by God.

These gifts are also the source of great misunderstanding. You see, because of our personalities we do things our own way. The goal is the same but the methods may differ. We humans like to think everything should be done our way. When they aren't then we have a tendency to think that it's being done all wrong and we criticize those not conforming to our own methods.

As we labor for our Master we need to come to realize that one of the beautiful things about serving the Lord is that He allows us to fulfill our service to Him in the context of our individual and unique gifting. He had a plan for each of our lives when we were conceived in the womb and even before that. I know that we can't comprehend and fathom that concept but it is none-the-less true.

We need to know more about gifts. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:1, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant." Paul understood the importance and the lack of understanding when it came to gifts.

Let's consider the words of Paul, because he knew what he was talking about. Let's try to understand each other and give each other space to do what God has wonderfully and uniquely spoken to our their hearts to do. When we do the Kingdom will be enhanced, we can be fulfilled, and souls will be won for the Lord. It all works like a well oiled machine when we fall into place and allow others the same privilege. When you're doing things God has put in you to do the way He has made you to do, you'll be amazed at how much peace it will bring into your life, and it will be just like a group of kids tearing wrappers at Christmas.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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