Spiritual Gifts...

Not long ago, at the urging of my sweet mother-in-law, my husband and I decided to take a Spiritual Gifts test.  My husband is disciplined, eloquent, educable, rational, and logical.  He loves to study- to gain knowledge- to search and find the answer, and then to share these truths with whomever he can.  Did I mention he's patient?  So it was no surprise to see that my husband's highest scores were in Teaching, Administration, and Evangelism.  Mine being Giving, Serving, and Encouragement.


This is where I would like to be totally honest with you: 

Sometimes I feel like my own gifts are small and less important than other gifts.  I find myself thinking that maybe if I were smarter, more organized, more goal-focused, disciplined, or logical God would have been able to use me- in what I see in my small mind- as a more useful- mightier way for his kingdom.

The truth is- sometimes I see God using my husband to speak God's truths to his co-workers or using him to share the gospel with family and I think to myself- "All I'm capable of or been gifted with is the ability to bake muffins for people.  How will that ever bring God the glory and attention that he desires and fully deserves." 

I don't know if some of you have felt this way at times, maybe I'm alone, but I'm here to tell you that it's out right lies straight from the enemy himself.  It has taken prayer, reading God's word, and even speaking with my husband for me to see this.   God's word is clear that we are all united and brought together to become one in Christ:

"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; he one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."  -Romans 12:3-8

We are each given different gifts that we should concentrate on and give our energies to. This scripture shows me that each gift is important, each gift is worth mentioning, each gift has merit, and each gift has its place, and that without each gift the body (the church) is incomplete and not whole. While some of the gifts may be more public and some more behind the scenes- they all work together- complimenting each other for one purpose and one goal- To Glorify God.

I'm so thankful that God is opening my eyes and my heart and allowing me to see that I too belong in his body.  That I too can be used to point others, through my gifts, to His glory.  He doesn't need me for this, but he allows me to- because he loves me.

So- if like me you find yourself sometimes feeling sorry for yourself or inadequate in your gifts hold on to God's word and remember to "earnestly desire the spiritual gifts..." (1 Corinthians 14:1)- they are given for the good of the church "to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace...in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."   (1 Peter 4:10-11).  And remember that sometimes even muffins are exactly what's needed to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ!