“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Your calling and your gifting go hand-in-hand.
We all have gifts. We all have something to offer. Scripture names all kinds of gifts:
Wisdom
Knowledge
Faith
Teaching
Discernment
Administration
Serving
Exhortation
Prophecy
Giving
Miracles
Mercy
Helping
Hospitality
and more!
This list isn't meant to be full of descriptions or pre-scriptions. The point is that God gifts His people in a variety of ways and in a variety of combinations to reach the world.
If you are wondering what your calling is to begin with, maybe you have absolutely no idea—start with asking what your gifts are.
#1 Take some free spiritual gift assessments.
#2 Don't just read, but study and meditate on 1 Corinthians 12. Start there.
#3 Then ask the people closest to you if they see those gifts in you. Ask the people who have seen you serve. Ask the truth-tellers. Ask the ones you know to be discerning.
#4 Last, take one or two of those gifts for a spin. Start small, in your house, with your best friend, volunteering, just give it a go. You'll know if it's a gift of yours pretty quick. Ever tried out something and learned real fast, "That's not for me?"
Gifts are a great place to start.
Maybe you know your gifts or at least you have a good idea. Maybe you’ve tried a few out, but you’ve ran into some discouragement along the way.
“What if I don’t feel good enough?”
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 ESV
Do you feel a little foolish trying to step into your calling? Feel too small or inadequate?
Good, you're in a position to be used.
It's not about who you are or even what you've done. It's not based on what you can bring to the table. It's not your name, your skill, your glory.
Maybe you have a good idea of what it could be or you know for sure, but you aren't in a position to do anything about it.
“What if I feel hidden?”
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”
John 12:24-26 ESV
God buries what He wants to grow.
A seed has to be planted to grow. A seed has to die to bear fruit.
“You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.”
1 Corinthians 15:36
We will have to die to ourselves over and over again to grow. It's the nature of how God set up the universe. Death brings life.
But we despise being hidden or buried.
We think it's a punishment but it's preparation.
Being hidden is actually a blessing. He is hiding you for your good.
God hides what’s valuable. God protects what He wants to grow.
If you feel hidden or buried in this season, don’t waste it. He is using this time to grow you beneath the surface so that when the time is right, you will have the character to sustain your calling.
“What do I do now?”
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
2 Timothy 1:6-14 ESV
Grow Your Gift
Our gifts won’t grow on their own. You can have a gift and never use it. If you don’t use it, you waste it.
Fan it into flame. Flames grow larger when you add oxygen. Breathe some life into those gifts.
Read books, listen to podcasts, process out loud with a friend over coffee, write a blog, host a small group, serve on Sunday mornings, write encouraging cards to old friends—put in the work toward your gifts.
Choose Power
The biggest obstacle to using your gift is fear. But, remember, God has given us power—the same power that was in Jesus!
He also gives a spirit of love and self-control (or sound mind). That’s the opposite of fear + chaos. A sound mind is focused on truth.
“Therefore, do not be ashamed,” meaning, don’t feel embarrassed or guilty.
How many times have you felt embarrassed or guilty when trying to navigate your gifting or calling? Maybe you’ve tried to lead a group, but no one showed up. Maybe you’ve invited someone to church, and they turned you down, and now it’s awkward. Maybe you’ve prayed for an open door to use your gift, but all doors slam shut.
When we live out the spirit of power, love, and sound mind, we don’t have to be ashamed. We don’t have to be afraid to say the name of Jesus or try out our gifts. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about when you’re walking in obedience.
That doesn’t mean we won’t face difficulty—Paul is literally writing from prison, but he asks Timothy to “share in suffering.” If we share it, we aren’t going through it alone.
Accept The Call
Two dangers:
#1 Asking God if there is someone better to do this.
#2 Pushing God out of the way and making it happen yourself.
The One who saved you is the One who called you. He already knows everything about you and still called you! Not because of you or thanks to you- “but because of his own purpose and grace.”
God ordained this call for you—both the messy and the miraculous parts.
Remember "The Way"
When we remember Who called us, we remember why we’re called.
God’s plan for mankind always included Jesus. Our calling + gifting are a part of this plan. It’s a big deal.
“The why” is the fuel for the call. The mission is clear, the missionary is you.
Guard Your Gift
God didn’t just drop your gift off and walk away—He is faithful to walk alongside you.
But we still have a role to play. When something valuable is entrusted to you, take good care of it.
Some of you need to just hold on right now. The journey God has you on right now is exactly where you are supposed to be. Lean into Him. Hold on to Him.
I truly believe God wants to use each of you in a specific, personal way.
I believe He wants to show you what that is.
I believe He will begin to unveil it to you as you commit only to knowing Him more. That's the key that unlocks the door to the call.
