WHAT MAKES YOU SPECIAL?

  • August 28th, 2010 | Johnny Bragg | No Comments |

    As we conclude our series on Falling Into Your Calling, I want to talk with you about that gal or guy in the mirror, yourself. So many of us float through life a bit confused at what we are supposed to be doing…what direction our lives are supposed to take. What next? What job? What career? What is my calling? Let’s start by looking inside you. We each have three distinct areas that affect our purpose: 

    1. SKILLS. These are things you have learned or acquired over time. Cooking. Working on cars. Computer hacking skills. Secret ninja moves. Anything you have learned from piano playing to carpet installing.

    2. ABILITIES. These are naturally in you. Creativity. Athleticism. Organization or administration. Ability with people. These are not learned, you just have them. Sure, you can develop and mature in your abilities…but you are either creative or you are not. We all have abilities that are hard-wired in us. 

    3. GIFTINGS. This is the big one. Gifts are spiritual, not natural. You did NOTHING to earn your gifts from God. Faith. Healing. Grace. Leadership. Giving. You may be a natural (ability!) encourager. It comes out of you easily. But there is also a spiritual gifting of encouragement. A God-given spiritual gift that you operate in within the body of Christ. Like abilities, you can mature in these over time. 

    The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:6-8, We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 

    Think of Paul’s life. He had the skill of tent-making that he learned and used in order to see his needs met. He had natural abilities such as speaking and organizing, which he used with his spiritual gifting as an Apostle (think church planter and overseer). His life is a beautiful blending of natural and spiritual…skills, abilities, and giftings. 

    Your life is no different. What makes you special is in you. Right now. You are hard-wired with giftings and abilities. You have skills you’ve picked up over time. God can use these three MIGHTILY in the kingdom. I encourage you to look at the tools the Lord has given you and get to work. I Peter 4:10, each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others. Be encouraged! We as the body of Christ NEED YOU and YOUR GIFTS! Your mamma was right…you are special, set apart, and destined.


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