Opening Your Spiritual Gifts (Day 2)

Spiritual gifts are the means by which we in the Church pursue Jesus’ mission for us.

Just before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave His followers--including you and me--the Great Commission. As Matthew tells it, Jesus said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

That’s a huge mission, something that no single person and no collection of leaders could accomplish without help. And God gives it. First and foremost, the mission has the help of God Himself. That’s why Jesus’ promise to always be with the mission-bearers is essential.

In addition God’s help, God also gives us the help of one another. The Bible describes the Church as “the body of Christ.”

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ... God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.” (First Corinthians 12:12-30)

Through our spiritual gifts, God empowers the whole Church--every believer in Jesus Christ--to play their part in the mission of the Church. Spiritual gifts are the means by which we in the Church pursue Jesus’ mission for us.

Bible Passage to Ponder: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (First Corinthians 12:27)