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Feb 23, 2026 06:00am

Are You Using the Gift Jesus Gave You?

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“I’m not sure why I shared all of that with you, but now you know my whole life story.”

This is how I end most of my conversations with my friend Heather.

We sat on her front porch in two Adirondack chairs, and I commented on how cute the pillows were. She shared how she had made them out of something, had repainted the chairs, and had even spray-painted her mums to make them pretty after they were dead. She’s crafty, has an eye for design, and brings meaning into every part of her home. And I love it.

I’m not sure how it happens. It just does. Every time we sit together, I think, I’m going to ask her questions. I’m going to see how she’s doing… but it always ends the same.

“I feel like I’ve talked the whole time!”

She has the beautiful gift. It’s as if sitting with her turns on the faucet and the words from your heart pour out. She’s a great listener, never judges, and just sits with you where you are. She doesn’t give you a big, deep explanation of technical terms—although she totally could—and she doesn’t say, “Here’s your problem.” She listens, encourages reflection, and you end up having a whole therapy session right there on her porch when you thought it was just coffee.

She uses that gift well in her professional life as a therapist, in her personal life as a friend, and in her church. I can guarantee anyone who knows her would say this about her.

That gift isn’t just something she learned in school. Sure, it can be shaped and developed, but it has a source. That gift can’t be taught; it has to be given by the One who holds all gifts within Himself:

Jesus.

Listen to what Paul says in Ephesians 4:7:

“However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.”

In Paul’s earlier comments, he shared that there is one body, one Spirit, one faith, one Lord, one baptism, and one God the Father. But within the body, or church, there are many people, each with a gift that should be used to further God’s mission and build up the church—the followers of Christ.

“8 That is why the Scriptures say,
“When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.”

This passage echoes Psalm 68:18, which pictures Christ as a mighty warrior who has conquered a city, taken its tribute, and led captives away from the fallen city. He generously gave His people gifts.

This is what He has done with us. He has given us gifts for a purpose, just as He gave the early church.

“11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”

Christ had—and still has—a purpose for each gift. To some, He gives the ability to teach; to others, the ability to evangelize; and to others, the ability to pastor. But none of them, no matter what they are, are meant to build up the individual for personal glory. They are meant to strengthen the church for God’s glory.

“14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

How are you using the gifts God has given you?

Let’s take an honest reflection. Are they only benefiting you? Or are you using them for His glory? How can you better use them in your church?

Maybe you’re unclear on what your gift—or gifts—are. Ask God to show you what that gift is, and talk to your pastor or the one discipling you about discovering your gift and using it the way God intended.

Our gifts are to be used for His mission:

Matthew 28:18–20
“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Let’s work together with the beautiful gifts God has given us to accomplish His mission. The local church was created by God for God. We are made to be a part of it.

Want to know more and how to get connected to a church? Go to follow.lifeword.org. After a few short videos about who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him, we will connect you to a local body of believers committed to continuing your discipleship.