Unsung Heroes: Encouragement of Barnabas — Monday
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (NIV)
This weekend, Jon taught about Barnabas and his spiritual gift of encouragement. Barnabas intentionally used encouragement as a way to bless the church in Acts, and his impact was so important that we are still talking about it thousands of years later.
Spiritual gifts are things that the Holy Spirit gives to believers for the purpose of serving God and spreading the gospel. In the New Testament, we find two passages that specifically identify several spiritual gifts—you can check them out in Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28. If I were to explain each of these gifts in detail, along with the different theological perspectives on whether all of these gifts still operate in the Church today, this devotional would be far too long, and you would have likely already closed out the page at this point, so I will challenge you to research them on your own.
Regardless of theological perspective, the undeniable reality is that God has equipped each of us with unique gifts to be used for His glory. Some of us can easily identify our God-given skills, while others of us may need help discerning how God has wired us. But once we’ve identified those gifts, it’s up to us to use them for His Kingdom. For us to ignore these giftings or fail to use them in a way that elevates Jesus and advances the gospel would be a shame. This is something that I have been fascinated with digging into in my own life, and I am hoping that by the end of the week, you and I will both have more clarity on how we were created.
Monday’s Reflection
Take some time to pray about your spiritual gifts. Identify 1-2 that you think you possess. If you’re stuck, ask a trusted friend, family member, or mentor to pray about this and tell you what they think you are gifted with.