Divine Assignments

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)

The moment you surrendered your life to Christ, God’s Holy Spirit provided you at least one spiritual gift to help His Church: the ability to give wise advice or a message of unique knowledge; great faith; the power to heal or perform miracles; ability to prophesy, discern God’s message from that of another spirit or speak in or interpret unknown languages (1 Corinthians 12:4–11). Each of God’s gifts is necessary for the Church to function smoothly.

Diverse types of people are beneficial to the body of Christ. You may be one of the “people gifts” Jesus supplied after He ascended to His Father: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip the saints for ministry and the building up of the Church (Ephesians 4:11–13).

Can you perceive God’s will? Do you enjoy serving or encouraging others, researching and communicating God’s Word, or freely giving your time and resources? Are you a “natural-born” leader and organizer? Are you compassion-driven for people in need? These are called motivational gifts (Romans 12:6–8). These tendencies did not “just happen” in your life; they were God-appointed before time began and given the moment of your conception. Do you have carpenter, cooking, or sewing skills, a beautiful singing voice without formal training? Are you known as a “Jack-of-all-trades?” God-given talents. All of God’s gifts are good and vital to His Church. However, Paul, the apostle, tells us that even though we serve in these gifts and skills for God’s glory and care for the needy but lack love for one another, we are nothing, only a loud noise (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Just as the human body has distinct parts, believers are individual members of His Church. God gifted each of us for His purposes, divine assignments, and does not change His mind. Our mission is to lovingly minister with these gifts and talents in His name as His eyes, mouth, hands, and feet, to not only be a blessing to believers but all people.