Investigating Your Unique Spiritual Gifts

“1. As I study how gifts operate in the Bible, do any resonate in my soul?

2. What do I enjoy doing?

3. What is the holy spirit telling me?

4. What ministry in my life is God blessing?

5. What gifts do others see operating in me?”

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In my Bible study, I have a friend who is passionate about evangelism. He has spent time overseas ministering to people on the street, and loves doing it.

I, the introvert, shudder at the thought of doing such a thing. But from this feeling I believe that God reveals two things to me:

1. My friend’s gift is not more important than mine. He is passionate about sharing the Gospel in one way, I can do it in another.

2. Because his gift is evangelism, it does not mean that I am exempt! We are all called to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 26:19). I can’t hide behind any excuses or other gifts and claim that I can’t do something we are all called to do.

All of us are members of the same body, and we all have different strengths that contribute to that. 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 reminds us: “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. … But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”

Dear friend, be confidant in the unique gifts and abilities that God has given you! Comparison is a dangerous beast. Remember that without all the unique members of the Body of Christ, we would not function as well. And if your gift were not important and necessary, then God would not have given it to you.

This article is meant to be a starting line for you, and I hope it has encouraged you to look deeper into your own heart, and see what sort of spiritual gift (or gifts) God has given you. Is He challenging you to do something new, or leading you on an unexpected path? Spend some good time in prayer, chatting with Him about this.

And, as with all things, we are called to serve in love. If your gift is pastoring or giving, teaching or mercy, do it all in love. In this way, God will be glorified, and His Church will flourish.

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Bethany Pyle is the editor for Bible Study Tools.com and the design editor for Crosscards.com. She has a background in journalism and a degree in English from Christopher Newport University. When not editing for Salem, she enjoys good fiction and better coffee.