Our world is a confusing place filled with conflicting messages. It seems as if we’re floating in a sea of relativity where nothing is fixed or stable. Just scroll through a social media feed or news article and you’ll discover a variety of worldviews that beckon us like sirens on a rocky shore. We can sample a vast buffet of beliefs and choose the ones that suit us. However, followers of Jesus know the best place to go for true wisdom is the Word of God. If you read my last post, you know my prayers often include two requests of the Lord: “Show me what You want me to know and show me what You want me to do.” Ephesians often gives me answers to both questions. As I’ve been studying it, I keep coming back to chapter four. It includes so much practical wisdom for walking in a manner worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1) and provides a clear path among an infinite number of options.
When we choose the Bible as our guide, “we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” (Ephesians 4:14-15, NLT)
How do we move from being immature and easily influenced like children to becoming mature and wise? The apostle Paul contends that discovering and using our spiritual gifts leads leads us to maturity while strengthening the body of Christ: “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13, NLT)
Every follower of Jesus has been given a spiritual gift, as Paul explains: “However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.”(Ephesians 4:7, NLT) Christ gives us gifts so we can pour into others and build the church. So, if we’re not using our gifts, we’re missing out on maturing spiritually, blessing others, and experiencing tremendous joy in the process. (Paul gives several other detailed examples of spiritual gifts in Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:27-31. These lists aren’t exhaustive but provide numerous examples to consider.)
Pastor J.D. Greear explains that spiritual gifts are the confluence of what we’re good at (ability), what we’re passionate about (affinity), and what others affirm they’ve experienced through us (affirmation).1 While there are a variety of online assessments available to discover our spiritual gifts, the best way is through first-hand experience. We’re not going to activate them if we approach church as consumers expecting to receive or as Lone Rangers viewing sermons online but never participating in face to face community. We have to get off the sidelines, roll up our sleeves, and engage with people by serving, giving, and sharing.
On the road to discovering our spiritual gifts, we’ll have a fair amount of trial and error. It took me a long time to realize that when I’m using my spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit is the One doing the work through me. When the power of the Spirit combines with my abilities and passions, I’m compelled by a sense of joyful purpose. I can sit for hours studying to prepare a Bible lesson or write a blog. There’s nothing I love more than mentoring someone who is learning and applying Scripture or discovering and using their spiritual gifts. Time flies because I’m using the gifts of encouragement, teaching, and shepherding the Lord has given me to build up others. In the process, my own faith also matures.
Paul explains the beauty of discovering and using our spiritual gifts: “[God] makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:16, NLT)
Who doesn’t want to be healthy, growing and full of love? How have you been blessed by others’ spiritual gifts? What gifts has the Lord given you to build the body of believers? If you don’t know, why not use the summer to discover them?
- Pray and ask God to show you where and how you can use your gifts to bring glory to Him and joy to yourself. For more ideas, click here.
The song “Build Your Church” references Paul’s teaching from Ephesians and invites us to pray for the Lord to use us in this eternally significant endeavor. Listen and let it inspire you today.
- J.D. Greear, The Book of Ephesians, Session 5, Right Now Media.
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