During October, the trees come alive with color in my region. One year, a particular tree caught my attention. Like Joseph, it wore a “coat” of many colors. Its top leaves were plum-colored. A little lower, the purple morphed into crimson foliage. The red gave way to robin’s-chest orange, and finally, neon yellow leaves peeked out at the bottom like a petticoat. Although the leaves had radically different colors, they all had sprouted from the same maple tree.
Our spiritual gifts are like leaves on an autumn tree; they vary greatly, yet they all stem from one source. “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all” (1 Corinthians 12:4). Coming from a divine source, our gifts are spiritual in nature. They’re not personality traits or physical abilities, but aptitudes for certain kinds of service within the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
Since the “[Holy Spirit] alone decides which gift each person should have” (1 Corinthians 12:11), we can trust that the spiritual ability God has given us has an important purpose. Every gift has value. Our gifts reveal something about the way God wants us to serve other Christians. “A spiritual gift is given to us so that we can help each other” (1 Corinthians 12:7). Imagine what the church would be like without leaders, givers, servers, or those who show mercy (Romans 12:7-8)!
People gifted with encouragement may minister through music, acts of kindness, or written words. Leaders may organize outreach programs or shepherd a church congregation. Spiritual gifts demonstrate the great diversity in the body of Christ, and they’re evidence that all believers are united in “the same Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:5).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 12:1-25
More:
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 to see what Paul considered to be more important than any single spiritual gift. Look up Ephesians 4:11-13 to see how long our gifts will last.
Next:
Are you exempt from serving in ways that do not align with your spiritual giftedness? Why or why not? How might you use your spiritual gift(s) in a new, creative way this week?
Gary Shultz on October 27, 2014 at 6:58 am
Thank you for blessing us with yours.
gary1schelvan on October 27, 2014 at 9:23 am
Hello Jenifer,
I thought your post was so thoughtful and insightful. I believe as you stated so eloquently, that we are all endowed with our own particular “spiritual gifts”, different from those of others and their gifts. For the longest time, I always equated my value/progress as a Christian, against what other “leading/outstanding Christians were doing in their walks with the Lord. But recently have come to know and accept my gifts of service and encouragement as acceptable unto God, which gives me freedom and peace. So thanks for your post.
jennifer benson schuldt on October 27, 2014 at 10:29 am
Yes, we are different from each other, by God’s design. Thanks for your words about comparing ourselves to others. God has created and gifted each of us just as He desired–we don’t have to worry when someone else seems to surpass our expectations for ourselves. God’s love for us does not depend on how gifted we are, but who He is (1 John 4:16). Jealousy and competition are enemies of love and unity.
Finding satisfaction in God and His love for us frees us from trying to find fulfillment in ourselves!
gary1schelvan on October 27, 2014 at 11:12 am
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the reply, it was helpful. I liked very much what you had to say about not worrying when we seem to fall short in our expectations of ourselves.
Your last line, “Finding satisfaction in God and His love for us, frees us from trying to find fulfillment in ourselves!”, was so true. We only need to lead or lives in a way that is pleasing to Him.
Roxanne Robbins on October 27, 2014 at 10:02 am
Jennifer – I found it greatly beneficial to reflect on the distinction you described between personal traits and aptitudes for service to the Lord. Thank you for sharing these insights!
seeking777always on October 27, 2014 at 10:59 am
That is an analogy I would not have ever thought of to use with spiritual gifts. I wonder if Josephs coat could represents the spiritual gifts as well. Its interesting to think about.
Spiritual gifts define who we are in Christ in a lot of ways. Each gift is uniquely mixed into our very souls as we grow in the womb. Sometimes the Holy Spirit gives us more han one of these wonderful gifts because God has a specific purpose for us that will require more of our heart.
It has always amazed me to see the different gifts in different people. It sort of reminds me of the tree analogy mentioned in John 15:1-8. “I am the vine you are the branches…”
Just like all of the branches in a tree work together to give it beauty and strength, We are all called to work together to give God beauty and stand together.
Thanks so much for that reminder today.
Winn Collier on November 1, 2014 at 8:07 pm
I think the reality of the Spirit’s gifting in each of us is one of the most freeing truths.