“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; the 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 12:6-8
If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit has given you one or more special gifts. These gifts of grace could be highly visible and dramatic or they may quietly empower you to work “behind the scenes”. They represent abilities and passions given to Christians for a particular purpose – to build up the local church and the Kingdom of God. These gifts are meaningless if we don’t use them. As we use them, we experience supernatural joy, energy, and endurance, knowing that while our work may be difficult or even thankless, we’re in God’s will and He is pleased.
Do you know your gift(s)? Are you using them? The first step if you aren’t is to make sure you’re connected to a local church and intentionally serving rather than just participating. The best way to discover your gifts is to try serving in various areas that interest you or that a mature Christian suggests might suit you. Not everything you try will work out – that’s OK. Fulfill your commitments with integrity, then respectfully step away from that area to try serving somewhere else.
Once you find an area of service that brings you the quiet joy of the Holy Spirit, you’re probably using your gifts. Invest deeply in that area with your time and energy and see what God begins to do through you. You’ll probably be quite surprised!