Daily Devotional - April 8, 2021
🧡 Worship: If you'd like to play a song before you begin or while you read, may we recommend "Gifts From God" by Chris Tomlin. Why not try asking alexa, siri, or google to play it for you?!
💛 Daily Verse: In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
☆ Romans 12:6-8 NLT
💜 Let's Talk About It: Paul points out seven gifts of the Spirit in this verse; prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, liberality, giving aid, and acts of mercy.
While some gifts are welcomed by the church more than others, each of these gifts is important to the body.
Service and teaching are especially important. Without these two, how could we make disciples?
I have been told I am an exhorter, and for the longest, I wasn't sure what that meant. It comes from the Greek word "Parakaleó" which means to make a call which is up close and personal. Many use the words "to encourage" in the English and state that it is the closest verbiage we have.
In essence, it means to call one to attention and encourage. This was absolutely necessary in the first century church in order to teach the masses who were converting from paganism and the worship of other Gods.
From our list we see some other great gifts, like acts of mercy and giving aid - both of which don't always come easy to me if I'm being honest. However, we each have our own spiritual gifts and thankfully, as we walk with Christ, we learn what they are and how to utilize them effectively for the Kingdom.
What spiritual gift from today's reading do you believe you have? Which, if any, spiritual gifts listed above come naturally to you?
💙 Prayer: Dear Father, I thank You for the spiritual gifts You have given me. I pray that if there are any gifts within me that I am not aware of that You would activate them right now in the name of Jesus. I pray, Lord, that I would use my spiritual gifts to edify the church and glorify Your holy name. I am so grateful for Your Holy Spirit. May Your will be done God. I love you Jesus and in Your name I pray, amen.