There are two major labels that attach to me as a disciple of Christ - son of God and servant of God. The first I receive by grace, but the latter is the expression of my gratitude for what I receive. Son-ship symbolizes my privileges and rights, while servant-hood, my duties towards him. As a son, my inheritance is grand, but as a servant, there is an earning too that I must do by the trading of what I have been entrusted, which includes work, wealth, education, abilities, spouse, children, family, church etc. I at least need to add value to these! A closer look reveals that my earning will decide my inheritance! So my service to the Lord (also labeled as ministry) is not only my gratitude and my duty but a decider of my eternal bequest making it completely significant in my life.
As Paul talks about service (ministry) in the above portion, he follows up with a treatise of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit equips the Christian in specific areas of ministry for the common good. Since these are key areas identified by the Holy Spirit, these shouldn’t be neglected anyhow as even divine abilities were to be bestowed if needed to make up for any lack in them.
Since these areas are so critical, should I then await a divine prodding to spruce them up? Shouldn’t I commence taking tiny steps? There are nine gifts illustrated in the portion but on a closer observation I can categorize them into three groups - the Knowledge Gifts, the Speech Gifts and the Power Gifts.
Knowledge, wisdom and discerning are the constituents of first group.
Knowledge is the information that I need to collect not just from the Bible but also from various other sources and by diverse means, be it reading, writing, or interactions. To strike conversations with people around, to be noticed at all, it’s crucial to have a knowledge bank. Wisdom is the ability to pick up the right information for application. Wisdom is knowledge applied. Proverbs talks at length about wisdom. Wisdom intensifies with experience. Discerning is the art of application of knowledge and wisdom on people and situations. Anything that we accumulate, has to become applicable to real people and situations, else, it’s just as useful as wherever it was lying in the first place!
Tongues, Interpretation and Prophecy are constituents of the second group.
Tongues and Interpretation characterize speaking and grasping respectively. I should not just season my speech with salt, but also garnishing my expressive skills in each form of communication. All amassing of knowledge, wisdom or discerning skills become useless without proper articulation at the stage of application. ‘Be quick to hear’ is a counsel given so that we give enough time to understand and grasp the expressions and situations of the other person. Now I understand the importance of featuring more in groups and discussions. Prophecy, in the roll of gifts, refers to encouragement and words of exhortation. Having grasped, when I speak, I should build - build up confidence, strengthen relationships and foster courage.
Faith, Healing and Miracles are the constituents in the third group.
If my faith is the tree that people see, then trust is its roots. Unless I have a walk of trusting the Lord in even the trivial things in my life, I cannot have a faith which impacts. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, but it establishes and develops by walking according to the Word of God. I can be resourceful, I can be useful too, but unless, I live what I espouse, will I not be a Pharisee? It’s my life that should reinforce my utility, back up my function, cause and values. With such a conviction and life I will be a comfort and thus a healing. I will also need to make every effort be above the ordinary, do the unexpected, and stand out – traits that define a miracle.
Indeed a lot of work on my hands since I claim to be His servant. There are many more areas, but these being identified by the Holy Spirit as essential, I need to urgently proceed on, not just to be called a good and faithful servant, or for a glorious inheritance, but also for common good.
As Paul talks about service (ministry) in the above portion, he follows up with a treatise of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit equips the Christian in specific areas of ministry for the common good. Since these are key areas identified by the Holy Spirit, these shouldn’t be neglected anyhow as even divine abilities were to be bestowed if needed to make up for any lack in them.
Since these areas are so critical, should I then await a divine prodding to spruce them up? Shouldn’t I commence taking tiny steps? There are nine gifts illustrated in the portion but on a closer observation I can categorize them into three groups - the Knowledge Gifts, the Speech Gifts and the Power Gifts.
Knowledge, wisdom and discerning are the constituents of first group.
Knowledge is the information that I need to collect not just from the Bible but also from various other sources and by diverse means, be it reading, writing, or interactions. To strike conversations with people around, to be noticed at all, it’s crucial to have a knowledge bank. Wisdom is the ability to pick up the right information for application. Wisdom is knowledge applied. Proverbs talks at length about wisdom. Wisdom intensifies with experience. Discerning is the art of application of knowledge and wisdom on people and situations. Anything that we accumulate, has to become applicable to real people and situations, else, it’s just as useful as wherever it was lying in the first place!
Tongues, Interpretation and Prophecy are constituents of the second group.
Tongues and Interpretation characterize speaking and grasping respectively. I should not just season my speech with salt, but also garnishing my expressive skills in each form of communication. All amassing of knowledge, wisdom or discerning skills become useless without proper articulation at the stage of application. ‘Be quick to hear’ is a counsel given so that we give enough time to understand and grasp the expressions and situations of the other person. Now I understand the importance of featuring more in groups and discussions. Prophecy, in the roll of gifts, refers to encouragement and words of exhortation. Having grasped, when I speak, I should build - build up confidence, strengthen relationships and foster courage.
Faith, Healing and Miracles are the constituents in the third group.
If my faith is the tree that people see, then trust is its roots. Unless I have a walk of trusting the Lord in even the trivial things in my life, I cannot have a faith which impacts. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, but it establishes and develops by walking according to the Word of God. I can be resourceful, I can be useful too, but unless, I live what I espouse, will I not be a Pharisee? It’s my life that should reinforce my utility, back up my function, cause and values. With such a conviction and life I will be a comfort and thus a healing. I will also need to make every effort be above the ordinary, do the unexpected, and stand out – traits that define a miracle.
Indeed a lot of work on my hands since I claim to be His servant. There are many more areas, but these being identified by the Holy Spirit as essential, I need to urgently proceed on, not just to be called a good and faithful servant, or for a glorious inheritance, but also for common good.
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