Gifts -Empowering Your Faith Journey: Understand and Apply

“Steward?” you might ask. “Gifts from God?” you may wonder. Let’s consider the gifts God gives and then you an reflect upon the ones He has given you.

Spiritual Gifts from God:

The Bible mentions various spiritual gifts that God gives us. According to 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NIV¹, some of these gifts include:

• Wisdom: The ability to make wise decisions and provide sound advice.
• Knowledge: The ability to understand and apply God’s teachings.
• Faith: The ability to trust God and believe in His promises.
• Healing: The ability to heal physical, emotional, or spiritual ailments.
• Miracles: The ability to perform supernatural acts that defy natural laws.
• Prophecy: The ability to speak God’s message to others.
• Discernment: The ability to distinguish between good and evil.
• Tongues: The ability to speak in languages unknown to the speaker.
• Interpretation: The ability to interpret messages spoken in tongues.

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How to be stewards of God’s Gifts:

Use them to serve others and glorify God. We should not use them for personal gain or to elevate ourselves above others. We should also seek to develop and grow our gifts, using them to build up the church and spread the message of Christ.

Wisdom:

Use your wisdom to provide guidance and counsel to those who seek it. For example, you could mentor someone who is going through a difficult time or offer advice to a friend who is struggling with a decision.

Knowledge:

Share your knowledge of God’s teachings with others. For example, you could lead a Bible study group or teach a Sunday school class.

Faith:

Trust in God’s promises and share your faith with others. For example, you could volunteer at a local church or participate in a mission trip.

Healing:

Use your gift of healing to help those who are sick or suffering. For example, you could visit a hospital or nursing home and pray for those who are ill.

Miracles:

Use your gift of performing miracles to help those in need. For example, you could pray for someone who is struggling with addiction or financial difficulties.

Prophecy:

Speak God’s message to others and encourage them to follow His will. For example, you could share your testimony with someone who is struggling with their faith or offer words of encouragement to a friend who is going through a difficult time.

Discernment:

Use your gift of discernment to distinguish between good and evil. For example, you could help someone who is struggling with a moral dilemma or offer guidance to a friend who is dealing with a difficult situation.

Tongues:

Use your gift of speaking in tongues to communicate with others who speak different languages. For example, you could participate in a mission trip to a foreign country and share the gospel with those who do not speak your language.

Interpretation:

Use your gift of interpreting messages spoken in tongues to help others understand God’s message. For example, you could interpret a message spoken in tongues during a church service or Bible study.

Remember, the key to being a good steward of these gifts is to use them to serve others and glorify God.

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Today’s Verse of the Day:

Firstly, let’s be the dads who reflect upon and thank God for the special gifts through spiritual talents and abilities graciously given by God! Additionally, let’s be the dads who look for ways to employ these gifts in serving others in appropriate ways to be good stewards of God’s grace. Therefore, let’s be the dads who both use the gifts to serve other as well as to glorify God by faithfully using the diverse and varied gifts and abilities granted by God’s unmerited favor.

Let’s reflect upon the gifts and talents God has given us and consider how we can best use them to serve others and glorify Him based on today’s verse of the day. How can we put them into practice and apply it today?

Applications of 1 Peter 4:10 towards being the dads our wives and kids need us to be while using the gifts and glorifying God through it all:

• Mentorship and Guidance:
  • Use your wisdom to mentor your children, providing guidance and counsel as they navigate life’s challenges.
• Family Bible Study:
  • Share your knowledge of God’s teachings with your family through regular Bible study sessions, imparting spiritual lessons and principles.
• Modeling Faith:
  • Demonstrate a strong and unwavering faith in God’s promises through your actions and reactions, serving as a positive example for your family.
• Healing Presence:
  • Be a source of comfort and support, using your gift of healing by providing emotional and spiritual support to family members during difficult times.
• Acts of Kindness:
  • Utilize your ability to perform acts of kindness as a form of miracles within your family and community, helping those in need.
• Prophetic Encouragement:
  • Speak God’s message of hope and encouragement to your family, guiding them to follow God’s will in their lives.
• Discerning Parenting:
  • Exercise discernment in your parenting decisions, helping your children distinguish between right and wrong and guiding them in moral dilemmas.
• Multilingual Communication:
  • If applicable, encourage the learning of multiple languages within your family, fostering better communication and understanding among diverse cultures.
• Interpreting Emotions:
  • Use your gift of interpretation to understand the emotions and needs of your family members, fostering a deeper connection and empathy.
• Service as a Family:
  • Engage in community service or volunteer work as a family, collectively using your gifts to serve others and spread the message of Christ.

Being good stewards:

Remember, the key is to approach these applications with humility and a genuine desire to serve, avoiding any sense of personal gain or elevating yourself above others. By integrating these applications into your daily life, you can fulfill the role of a father who not only recognizes his spiritual gifts but also uses them to positively impact his family and glorify God.