Theme of the Week: Spiritual Gifts
Bible Verse: “If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.” 1 Peter 4:11
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:7-11
What are spiritual gifts? Sam Storms defines them as “capacities or abilities imparted to Christians by the Holy Spirit to enable them to exceed the limitations of their finite humanity in order to serve other believers to the glory of God.”1
What, specifically, are those gifts? The Bible doesn’t give one list. Instead, it gives a few lists, each one a little different (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, 28; Ephesians 4:11; and 1 Peter 4:11).
I find Peter’s broad categories helpful. He lists two main categories:
- Speaking gifts — Gifts like prophecy, teaching, exhorting, and tongues
- Serving gifts — Gifts like service, giving, showing mercy
It’s easy to get lost in all of the details about each of the gifts. The details matter. We should pay careful attention to each gift. We shouldn’t shy away from tricky questions, like, “What is the gift of prophecy?” and, “Were spiritual gifts like tongues and prophecy temporary, or do they still exist today?”
But we also shouldn’t miss the big picture. Simply put, spiritual gifts involve either speaking or serving to meet the needs of other believers for God’s glory.
Peter adds an important reminder for each kind of gift. If you have speaking gifts, be sure to speak God’s words, not your own. Stay glued to your Bible. If you serve, serve with God’s strength, not your own.
Use whatever gifts God has given you — speaking or serving — to help other believers and to glorify God.
Prayer: Lord, help me not to get lost in the details. Help me to speak and serve so that other believers and strengthened, and so that you are glorified. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection: Do you think you have speaking gifts, serving gifts, or both?
1 https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-questions-about-spiritual-gifts/. Accessed April 12, 2023.
Copyright © 2023 Impactus | Promise Keepers Canada. All rights reserved.
About
