The Gift In You

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

1 Peter 4:10

Have you ever wondered what your purpose is in this life? Have you lost sleep laying in bed thinking to yourself, “why was I born?” or  “what on earth am I here for?” If you have you are not alone. The devil wants you to believe there is no meaning to your life or any life at that while God has something else in mind. God wants His children to know there is a gift deep inside your soul that is just waiting to be let out, or in the spirit of Christmas, to be unwrapped. The Bible teaches us that when Jesus rose from the grave conquering sin and death He did something else on His way back to heaven. Ephesians 4:7-8 says, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." You might say to celebrate His victory Jesus gave gifts, spiritual gifts to all of God’s family, present then and including every believer in the future which includes us now. What that means in simple terms is if you belong to Jesus Christ and are a member of God’s family then God has endowed you with a gift for the purpose of ministry so that we can each be effective in serving Him in this world.

Years ago Pastor Jack Hayford authored a book written to be read around Christmas time titled, “The Mary Miracle”. In the book pastor Jack developed this thought chapter by chapter regarding the favor of God to Mary that first Christmas and how the promise God made her applies to us now and not just at Christmas. He said, “The promise of God is to you, that it might grown in you, to pass through you and change the world around you.” For Mary the promise was that she was chosen by God to give birth to Jesus. Though she was a virgin she would miraculously give birth to the promised Messiah after being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. This baby, this precious gift was going to grow in her and eventually pass through her to change the world around her.

And just like Mary, God has made a promise to me and you too. He has given gifts to us that can only truly function in the power of the Holy Spirit. God wants that promise to grow in us so that it can eventually pass through us to change the world around us, Ephesians 4:15-16 reminds us, “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Remind yourself throughout this Christmas season, “The promise of God is to me, to grow in me, to pass through me, to change the world around me.” All you need to do is be willing to unwrap the gift in you, let it out and watch it work as you allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you and empower you to do supernaturally what you could never even think of accomplishing naturally. God’s gifts mixed with God’s power results in God’s glory and our good as well as that of our fellow man. Jesus you can say is the gift that keeps on giving.

Discover your spiritual gifts this Christmas and invite the Holy Spirit to empower their use in your life making you effective in fulfilling the purposes of God and bringing Him glory. Allow the gifts of God’s spirit to be part of your daily exercise. Grow in the knowledge of God’s grace and walk in His love empowering you to love and serve others in Jesus name. Remember, a gift isn’t truly a gift until we give it away. With that in mind don’t forget, “Your life is God’s gift to you. What you do with your life is your gift to God.” Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!  

“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

2 Peter 3:18


I LOVE YOU!