Spiritual Gifts
Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts: Reflecting God's Image to the World
The end of all things is near. These words from First Peter might sound alarming, but they come with a beautiful instruction: be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer. Above all, maintain fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
This isn't just poetic language. It's a call to action that speaks directly to how we're meant to live as people of faith.
The Mirror of Refinement
There's a powerful story about a silversmith that captures something essential about spiritual transformation. When asked how he knew when silver had been fully purified in the fire, the craftsman gave a simple answer: "When I can see my reflection in it."
This image reveals God's purpose in our trials. When we go through difficult seasons, when life turns up the heat and we feel the pressure, God is looking for His reflection in us. He's watching to see if His character shows through our responses, our attitudes, our actions toward others.
We complain. We groan. We question why hard times come. But if the Spirit of God lives within us, those difficult moments are opportunities for God's attributes to shine through our lives. This is where spiritual gifts come into focus—they are nothing less than the very characteristics of God imparted to us.
What Are Spiritual Gifts?
Scripture is clear that we are collectively Christ's body, and individually we are members of it, each with our own special purpose and function. God has appointed apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators, and those with various other gifts.
But here's the critical question: Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Of course not. We have different gifts according to the grace given to us, and each of us is to use them accordingly.
Just as one physical body has many parts with different functions, we who are many are nevertheless one body in Christ, mutually dependent on each other. Some have the gift of prophecy, speaking new messages from God. Others serve, teach, encourage, give generously, lead with diligence, or show mercy in caring for others.
The instruction is simple: do all these things with cheerfulness.
Living Examples of Spiritual Gifts
Consider the story of Erskine Peoples, an elderly man who grew up during the civil rights era, through Jim Crow laws and systematic discrimination. He experienced firsthand a world that didn't accept him, that didn't love him, that treated people who looked like him as less than human.
Yet when you sat with Erskine, something remarkable emerged. There was not an ounce of malice. Not a trace of bitterness. Not a hint of resentment. Only unselfish love flowed from this man.
How could someone who experienced such injustice harbor no anger? Because Erskine was a reflection of God's unselfish love. He demonstrated the very characteristics and attributes of Almighty God. He lived out spiritual gifts in a way that taught everyone around him what it truly means to reflect Christ.
When people looked at Erskine, they saw compassion, forgiveness, grace, and love—the very image of God.
The Good Samaritan Revisited
Jesus told a story that perfectly illustrates spiritual gifts in action. A man traveling from Jericho to Jerusalem was attacked by thieves, beaten mercilessly, robbed, and left half-dead on the roadside.
A priest came by first. He looked at the wounded man and thought he was dead. Knowing that touching a corpse would make him ceremonially unclean for over a week—preventing him from performing his temple duties—he passed by on the other side.
Then a Levite, a young man studying to be a priest, came along. He felt sorry for the wounded man but had classes and responsibilities to attend to. He, too, passed by.
Finally, a Samaritan came down the road. Samaritans were despised by Jewish people, considered lower class and uncivilized. Yet this Samaritan stopped. He dressed the man's wounds, anointed his head with oil, took him to an inn, paid for his care, and promised to cover any additional expenses.
Jesus asked the lawyer who posed the original question: "Who was the good neighbor?"
The answer was obvious—the one who showed mercy.
Then Jesus gave the command that still echoes today: "Go and do likewise."
Spiritual Gifts in Action
The Samaritan exemplified multiple spiritual gifts in that one encounter. He demonstrated healing, compassion, empathy, generous giving, administration, wisdom, service, and unselfish love. He showed us what it looks like when someone reflects God's character to a hurting world.
This is precisely what spiritual gifts are meant to accomplish. They enable us to be the hands and feet of Christ to those around us. They allow others to see God through our actions, our words, our attitudes.
The Critical Questions
Have you asked God what your gifts are? Have you earnestly sought Him in prayer, compelling Him to reveal the specific ways He's equipped you to serve?
Do you even care?
These aren't comfortable questions, but they're necessary ones. Is your gift evangelism? Prophecy? Teaching? Healing? Compassion? Empathy? Giving? Administration?
Whatever your gift, you have a responsibility to discover it and use it for God's glory. You're meant to be part of the kingdom's advancement, not an obstacle to it. You're called to be part of someone's life transformation, not a hindrance to their spiritual growth.
A Church That Reflects God
When we all start reflecting the very attributes of God to those around us, transformation happens. Why would God bring hurting people into a community where they'll be ignored, unnurtured, or uncared for?
He wants a people who will be the spiritual hands He's left on earth—showing compassion, healing, caring, generosity, and the love of Jesus.
This isn't about filling buildings with bodies. It's about becoming a reflection of Christ so clear that others are drawn to the light they see in us.
The Refining Fire
If the Spirit of God is wrestling with you, be grateful. It means He's still working in your life, still speaking to you, still shaping you.
The alternative is becoming a reprobate—someone so hardened that God's Word no longer penetrates, someone who can hear truth and remain unmoved.
God help us if we ever reach a place where we cannot feel and hear the Holy Spirit.
Your Response
The challenge is simple but profound: Are you reflecting back to God what He's placed within you? Are people seeing Jesus when they encounter you?
God died for you. He shed His blood for you. He gave everything for you. The least we can do is show Him how grateful we are by allowing His character to shine through our lives.
Discover your spiritual gifts. Use them boldly. Reflect God's image to a world desperate to see Him.
The time is now. The need is urgent. And you are uniquely equipped for this moment.
The end of all things is near. These words from First Peter might sound alarming, but they come with a beautiful instruction: be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer. Above all, maintain fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
This isn't just poetic language. It's a call to action that speaks directly to how we're meant to live as people of faith.
The Mirror of Refinement
There's a powerful story about a silversmith that captures something essential about spiritual transformation. When asked how he knew when silver had been fully purified in the fire, the craftsman gave a simple answer: "When I can see my reflection in it."
This image reveals God's purpose in our trials. When we go through difficult seasons, when life turns up the heat and we feel the pressure, God is looking for His reflection in us. He's watching to see if His character shows through our responses, our attitudes, our actions toward others.
We complain. We groan. We question why hard times come. But if the Spirit of God lives within us, those difficult moments are opportunities for God's attributes to shine through our lives. This is where spiritual gifts come into focus—they are nothing less than the very characteristics of God imparted to us.
What Are Spiritual Gifts?
Scripture is clear that we are collectively Christ's body, and individually we are members of it, each with our own special purpose and function. God has appointed apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators, and those with various other gifts.
But here's the critical question: Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Of course not. We have different gifts according to the grace given to us, and each of us is to use them accordingly.
Just as one physical body has many parts with different functions, we who are many are nevertheless one body in Christ, mutually dependent on each other. Some have the gift of prophecy, speaking new messages from God. Others serve, teach, encourage, give generously, lead with diligence, or show mercy in caring for others.
The instruction is simple: do all these things with cheerfulness.
Living Examples of Spiritual Gifts
Consider the story of Erskine Peoples, an elderly man who grew up during the civil rights era, through Jim Crow laws and systematic discrimination. He experienced firsthand a world that didn't accept him, that didn't love him, that treated people who looked like him as less than human.
Yet when you sat with Erskine, something remarkable emerged. There was not an ounce of malice. Not a trace of bitterness. Not a hint of resentment. Only unselfish love flowed from this man.
How could someone who experienced such injustice harbor no anger? Because Erskine was a reflection of God's unselfish love. He demonstrated the very characteristics and attributes of Almighty God. He lived out spiritual gifts in a way that taught everyone around him what it truly means to reflect Christ.
When people looked at Erskine, they saw compassion, forgiveness, grace, and love—the very image of God.
The Good Samaritan Revisited
Jesus told a story that perfectly illustrates spiritual gifts in action. A man traveling from Jericho to Jerusalem was attacked by thieves, beaten mercilessly, robbed, and left half-dead on the roadside.
A priest came by first. He looked at the wounded man and thought he was dead. Knowing that touching a corpse would make him ceremonially unclean for over a week—preventing him from performing his temple duties—he passed by on the other side.
Then a Levite, a young man studying to be a priest, came along. He felt sorry for the wounded man but had classes and responsibilities to attend to. He, too, passed by.
Finally, a Samaritan came down the road. Samaritans were despised by Jewish people, considered lower class and uncivilized. Yet this Samaritan stopped. He dressed the man's wounds, anointed his head with oil, took him to an inn, paid for his care, and promised to cover any additional expenses.
Jesus asked the lawyer who posed the original question: "Who was the good neighbor?"
The answer was obvious—the one who showed mercy.
Then Jesus gave the command that still echoes today: "Go and do likewise."
Spiritual Gifts in Action
The Samaritan exemplified multiple spiritual gifts in that one encounter. He demonstrated healing, compassion, empathy, generous giving, administration, wisdom, service, and unselfish love. He showed us what it looks like when someone reflects God's character to a hurting world.
This is precisely what spiritual gifts are meant to accomplish. They enable us to be the hands and feet of Christ to those around us. They allow others to see God through our actions, our words, our attitudes.
The Critical Questions
Have you asked God what your gifts are? Have you earnestly sought Him in prayer, compelling Him to reveal the specific ways He's equipped you to serve?
Do you even care?
These aren't comfortable questions, but they're necessary ones. Is your gift evangelism? Prophecy? Teaching? Healing? Compassion? Empathy? Giving? Administration?
Whatever your gift, you have a responsibility to discover it and use it for God's glory. You're meant to be part of the kingdom's advancement, not an obstacle to it. You're called to be part of someone's life transformation, not a hindrance to their spiritual growth.
A Church That Reflects God
When we all start reflecting the very attributes of God to those around us, transformation happens. Why would God bring hurting people into a community where they'll be ignored, unnurtured, or uncared for?
He wants a people who will be the spiritual hands He's left on earth—showing compassion, healing, caring, generosity, and the love of Jesus.
This isn't about filling buildings with bodies. It's about becoming a reflection of Christ so clear that others are drawn to the light they see in us.
The Refining Fire
If the Spirit of God is wrestling with you, be grateful. It means He's still working in your life, still speaking to you, still shaping you.
The alternative is becoming a reprobate—someone so hardened that God's Word no longer penetrates, someone who can hear truth and remain unmoved.
God help us if we ever reach a place where we cannot feel and hear the Holy Spirit.
Your Response
The challenge is simple but profound: Are you reflecting back to God what He's placed within you? Are people seeing Jesus when they encounter you?
God died for you. He shed His blood for you. He gave everything for you. The least we can do is show Him how grateful we are by allowing His character to shine through our lives.
Discover your spiritual gifts. Use them boldly. Reflect God's image to a world desperate to see Him.
The time is now. The need is urgent. And you are uniquely equipped for this moment.
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