“So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior–a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control] with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love. Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful]. There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]–one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and [living] in all. Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift. Therefore it says, ‘WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND HE BESTOWED GIFTS ON MEN.'” Ephesians 4:1-8 AMP

We are all given different gifts in this life…some a great communicators and able to speak numerous languages; some are blessed with musical talent in which the Spirit of God is virtually tangible; some are blessed with well-developed empathy; some are blessed with significant inclinations towards math, science, and/or medicine. Regardless of the gifts we are given, God needs us to recognize them and learn how to utilize them to the best of our ability.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the parable about not hiding your light under a bushel. It appears in three of the four Gospels (Matthew 5:14-15; Mark 4:21-25; Luke 8:16-18). The point of the parable is that the gifts we are given are like light in the darkness for those in need of the Holy Spirit. God infuses each of us with a variety of inner candles, each one with a fuse just waiting to be lit so that it may shine out upon all those around them.

Imagine standing in a large room that is in total darkness. Then, one candle is lit in the center of the room. Naturally, the eye will be drawn towards the lit candle, and that which is in the immediate vicinity of the light will become more visible. Then, another candle is lit somewhere close by. And then another. And another. In the end, let’s say there are 200 candles lit throughout the room. As you can imagine, the light will be much brighter, and the air will even contain a warmth from the flames. This is how the gifts of the spirit work in the lives of those around them.

“This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection]. 1 John 1:5 AMP

I have a dear friend in our choir at church, and her musical gift is absolutely astounding. The strength of the Spirit that flows through her voice as she worships in song is so bright and strong, it is an irresistible draw towards God and His loving spirit. My daddy is gifted with a spirit of kindness and generosity, as well as integrity, which is always a bright light in the lives of those around him. My husband is gifted with an incredibly loving nature and a willingness to help those around him in any way he can. My sister is gifted with a brilliant mind, humor, and an extraordinary ability to mentor anyone she meets.

My point in sharing all of that is this: each one of them, in their own unique ways, contribute to the lives of all who know them in very significant ways, simply by being who God made them to be. When they are acting on one of the gifts they were given, their lights are so bright they illuminate even the darkest days of those God places in their paths.

It is so important that we make time to learn to recognize and develop the gifts we’ve been given. There is no way to know who will need what God gave you to offer, unless you are out there in the world offering it up for the taking. This past weekend, our choir sang Christmas carols in a local grocery story, and our choir director let us know he was approached by a woman when he went back to the store later that night who had heard us singing. She told him she’d lost her mother recently, and one of the things they shared each year was a love of caroling. She also told him that, because of our presence and willingness to share our voices, it made her feel closer to her mom, which made her feel she would be able to get through this first Christmas without her.

Don’t squander your gifts, and make sure you do what you can to encourage those you love in developing their gifts, as well. God has plans and designs for everyone, and He intends for us to work together as one in the body of Christ in order to fulfill those plans according to His will. How often to you stop to consider what God needs from you? When was the last time you asked Him to make your gifts known to you, or to guide you in helping develop the gifts He placed in those around you?

Just something to think about…