We have been having a lot of discussion in our home lately about personality types & it has been fun to discover what makes each of us tick & have a little fun with each other’s idiosyncrasies. As our church family dives into the same process, the hope is that we will dig a little bit further and begin to talk about our spiritual gifts. Romans 12:4-8 tells us that “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 who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously, if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
Personally, it was easier for me to identify my spiritual gifts than to figure out what to do with them. For years I prayed about my purpose in life. It was difficult for me to figure out how God wanted me to use my gifts. Looking back now, I think that God directed me into ministry by breaking my heart over the suffering of His people. The things that break our heart is where our passion to serve lies. So, what breaks your heart? For me it was hunger and homelessness. For someone else it might be an orphan or a victim of domestic violence, those with a disability or someone who has an addiction. Whatever it is that breaks our heart – that is where God wants us to serve.
Debi Petrillo – Faith Partner
06/30/2020