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The theme for our reflection is “the grace gifts.” Grace means unmerited favour, gifts, on the other hand, are things given willingly to someone without payment. The grace gifts are, therefore, supernatural enablement or abilities given to believers by the Holy Spirit. They are not given based on any human merit or effort but completely by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and through fellowship of the Holy Spirt for the edification of the church and furtherance of God’s mission on earth. Paul wrote that “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:6-8) Paul only made mentions, but a few, the list is not exhaustive.

Beloved in the Lord, it is important to note that we have been blessed with the grace gifts because of our salvation in Christ. We must therefore use these gifts for the growth and expansion of the church. It rather sad that some Christians who have the grace gifts fail to understand that they are to complement other brothers and sister with other grace gifts to promote God’s grand mission of saving the world. Some people think that their gifts are superior to others, thereby looking down on the gift of others and eventually creating division and confusion in the church of Christ. Paul admonishes us that “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. (Romans 12:4-6) We must learn to respect one another’s gifts and learn to work together as a team, for it is the same Holy Spirit at work in all of us. It is also important to understand that we are stewards of the grace gifts given to us, therefore, we shall render an account on how we have used the grace gifts in fulfilling the will of God while we were in the world. It is for this reason, Jesus admonishes us that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23). Beloved in the Lord, let us not use the grace gift to work against one another and the will of God but work with another as one body to fulfill the His will and mission in the world through our Lord Jesus Christ. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, we pray for unity and understanding even as we use our various grace gifts in the furtherance of the Kingdom business. Amen.