Are You Operating in Your Gift?

 "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ~ Ephesians 2:4, 5, 7-10 NIV

Just what are these good works? Is it enough to be a good person, doing good things for good people? Or would a gift so great, we could never do anything to earn it or repay its favor, require something much more profound from us?

The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8, that God saved us through faith as an act of kindness. We had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God so it is clear that we have earned nothing. Therefore, it should also be clear that something much more than being a ‘good’ person is required to show God we appreciate this gift. Well how do we do that?

God, being the loving, merciful, generous God that He is, even helped us in this. He has given each of us specific work to do and He has graciously and thoroughly equipped us for the work (2 Timothy 3:17). No matter our assignment, through God’s grace and favor, we have been given additional gifts to assist us to do the work. God has prepared the way for us (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Those gifts are tapped into by exhibiting our gratefulness of God’s mercy and favor, which makes a way for the Holy Spirit to work through us. Through the Spirit, we can access our gifts. All gifts are not the same and not everyone has the same gifts. It is our responsibility to seek God’s guidance and direction (Psalms 32:8) regarding what our gifts are and how they should be used, but be reminded that whatever your gift or gifts in the Spirit, you are to use them for the common good and furtherance of the kingdom of God  (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

So, are you walking in the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23)? Are you operating in your gifts?

Contributed by: Veronica F.

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