DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR DAVE JANUARY 25, 2023

God’s Gifts

It was a real treat for my wife Tracy and me to spend this past weekend with 27 youth and 10 leaders from Signal Crest at the Resurrection youth retreat in Pigeon Forge. We got to enjoy some amazing worship and fellowship, and Drew did an amazing job organizing the experience for us all.

The theme of this year’s event was “ONE: One Faith, One Hope, One Lord.” It was inspired by the following passage in Ephesians 4:4-6:

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all” (NRSV).

A few verses down from this passage, Paul goes on to describe the various gifts that God has given to each one of us. Some of us are gifted to be pastors and teachers (Eph 4:11). But there are many other gifts, including encouragement, generosity, leadership, diligence, compassion, and cheerfulness (Romans 12:6-8). Our speaker, Rev. Dr. Stephanie Hand, encouraged all of us to explore our gifts and to try to find ways to use them to build up the body of Christ (Eph 4:12).

On Saturday evening, Drew called us all together in the main room of our spacious cabin, and we took turns naming some of the gifts we saw in each other. Leaders named gifts they saw in the youth, in other leaders, and in themselves, and youth named gifts they saw in fellow youth, in their leaders, and in themselves. This went on for about an hour. It was a special time. The Spirit of the Lord was in that place that night.

So what about you? How has God gifted you?

What would you say one of your gifts is?

What would someone who knows you well say one of your gifts is (ask them!)?

How are you using your gift(s) to serve others and to build up Christ’s body?

If you would like to learn more about what your spiritual gifts are, you can complete the online questionnaire linked below. There are 80 questions. It might take you half an hour to complete. Let me know what you find out. I’d love to hear what your gifts are and to celebrate them with you.

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/spiritual-gifts-inventory/en