Gifted-who, me?

This weekend at Nativity, the message was about spiritual gifts--what they are, what we are supposed to do with them, and how we are uniquely gifted by God.  This subject has always confused me, and I don't think I saw the distinction between an ability and a spiritual gift before. After listening to the message, I hounded fellow staff members, who fielded my questions throughout the weekend.

The subect of spiritual gifts is one that I never bothered to understand.  It seemed like a topic that only famous, long-dead saints needed to study. I don't speak in tongues, I can't heal people, and, to my knowledge, I have no miracles to my name. I once drove from my house to BWI airport in 17 minutes, but I think that qualified more as a law violation than an actual miracle.

After listening to the message, and grilling others about their understanding of spiritual gifts, I decided it might be helpful to actually read the parts of the Bible that deal with spiritual gifts. I know--what a concept. I don't read directions that come with new electronic devices either.

Particularly, I read 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 and Romans 12:6-8. I reviewed the listings of spiritual gifts (there are many and these passages are not exhaustive).  Some gifts jumped out as NOT applicable to me (I always manage to go negative first). In the process, I experienced an internal, guilty pull against trying to identify my gifts.

Then it occurred to me that there should be no guilt in identifying one's spiritual gifts-after all, they are spiritual (from God and for God's kingdom) and gifts (freebies, not earned). So, identifying them is not an exercise in flattering myself. I decided that maybe I should read the Scripture passages and think about what seems to come easily to me, even though I can't explain why.

After I relaxed about the process and let the Scripture speak to me, I did identify some spiritual gifts that I thought came more easily to me than others.

It's a useful process--try it. It makes you think about whether you are actually using your spiritual gifts as you should be, and how you can better serve God. Using our spiritual gifts is not only what Christ wants us to do, but it also puts us at ease because we are working within our natural areas of competence.

Win-win.