THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
A woman was being interviewed for a job. The interviewer finally got down to THE QUESTION, "Your age please?"
The lady said, "Well, let's see. I was 18 when I married my husband who was 30. He's now 60 - twice as old as he was then. So I must be 36!"
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Rom 12:6-8
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
KJV
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
God MADE us the way we are. He wants us to BE who we are. He created us all different, and doesn't want us to try and be somebody else. So why not just learn to be who we are, and build on that?
God doesn't want us to try and utilize gifts we don't have. As Christians, we have gifts that God has given us for a purpose. All the gifts together make up the "family," or "body" of Christ.
But God does want us to "cultivate" our gifts. He wants us to learn and grow in the use of them.
For this reason, it's good to sit down and take a "personality inventory." Make a list of things you are good at, and things you are not. Ask others to help you identify your gifts.
Remember, each of us has one gift; and most of us have more than one.
Now, the crux issue: USE your gift or gifts in relation to God's "family." In the church! Minister according to your gift or gifts. Paul tells us that we should use our gifts, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" (Ephesians 4:12)
ALL the gifts are obviously not mention in the verses above. There are some others listed in 1Corinthians 12:28-30. And the Bible doesn't contain an exhaustive list of spiritual gifts.
If you have the gift of a good voice in singing - be in the choir.
If you have the gift of and encourager - use it in conversation with other church members.
And remember, the gift of prophecy (speaking to others about Jesus) was given to the WHOLE church at Pentecost (Acts 2:16). So EVERY Christian has the ability to speak to others about Jesus!
Be who you are!
Love ya,
Bruce