Why It Matters That We Discover and Use Our Spiritual Gifts

Scripture:

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

Devotion:

Too many people go through life feeling like they’re just surviving, working, managing responsibilities, and trying to stay afloat; yet deep down, there’s a longing for more. What if that emptiness is tied to a gift God placed inside you that’s been left unopened or unused?

Every believer has been given spiritual gifts, not for personal glory, but for the good of others and the growth of the Church. You were not only saved by grace, but you were also equipped by grace.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul outlines various gifts given by the Holy Spirit:

•Word of wisdom – godly insight and direction
•Word of knowledge – Spirit-revealed understanding
•Faith – extraordinary trust in God
•Gifts of healing – prayer and intercession that brings restoration
•Miraculous powers – divine acts that defy natural order
•Prophecy – Spirit-led truth that guides and convicts
•Discernment – knowing what is from God and what is not
•Speaking in tongues – Spirit-inspired language, often for prayer
•Interpretation of tongues – understanding and communicating that message clearly

These are not for show, they are for service. God has distributed them intentionally, and everyone has access to some expression of His Spirit.

Why Discovering and Using Your Gift Matters:

1. It gives clarity to your purpose. Your spiritual gift often holds the key to your “why.” When you discover it, the fog begins to lift. You see how God wants to work through your life.
2. The Church is stronger when everyone participates. The body of Christ thrives when every part is functioning. It’s not that God is absent when the Church feels weak, its that too many believers are disengaged.
3. Others are impacted by your obedience. Your gift isn’t just for you. Someone’s healing, encouragement, direction, or breakthrough might come through your willingness to be used by God.
4. You were made for more than survival. You weren’t created to coast through life. You were called to advance the Kingdom; to bring light, speak truth, love deeply, and walk in power and purpose.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for placing gifts inside of me. Help me not to bury them in fear, distraction, or doubt. Reveal what You’ve given me and teach me how to use it for Your glory and the good of others. I surrender my life as a vessel; ready, willing, and available. Use me, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Story Time

The Gift in the Drawer

Elias had been a faithful church member for years. He attended every Sunday, helped set up chairs, and smiled at everyone who walked through the doors. Yet, when he was alone, a quiet restlessness gnawed at him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something in his life was… unused.

One day after service, Pastor Daniel spoke about spiritual gifts; those God-given abilities meant to serve others. He read from 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

As he spoke, Elias thought about a small wooden box in his desk drawer at home. It held a gift his father had given him years ago, a beautifully crafted fountain pen. His father had said, “One day, you’ll use this to write something that matters.” But Elias had never touched it. He told himself he was too busy, too unsure, too… ordinary.

That night, as he sat at his desk, he opened the drawer and picked up the pen. Its weight in his hand felt different now purposeful and for the first time, the thought struck him: What if my life is like this pen? Designed for a purpose, but left unused?

He began praying. “Lord, what have You placed inside me that I’ve been ignoring?”

Over the next weeks, doors began to open. A small group leader asked Elias to share a devotional one evening. Nervously, he agreed and as he spoke, words flowed with clarity and encouragement that surprised him. People told him afterward, “That was exactly what I needed to hear.”

Elias realized something: God had given him the gift of teaching and encouragement, but it had been sitting, like the pen, in the drawer of his life.

From that day forward, Elias stopped waiting to feel “ready.” He offered himself to God in every opportunity; whether speaking in front of a group, praying for a hurting friend, or writing letters of encouragement. The restlessness faded, replaced by a deep sense of purpose.

How it Connects:

This story mirrors the truth found in Why It Matters That We Discover and Use Our Spiritual Gifts. Just as Elias’s pen was never meant to stay locked away, your God-given gift is never meant to stay hidden. 1 Peter 4:10 calls us to steward what God has placed in us; our gifts are not for self-glory, and for the good of others and the building up of the Church.

Moral:

A gift unused is a purpose unfulfilled. When we discover and use the spiritual gifts God has placed in us, we move from simply surviving to truly living and others experience God’s grace through our obedience.