PERFECT GIFTS VIA CONTINUATIONISM - PART 6

THURSDAY 04 SEPTEMBER 2025

Reference: 1st Corinthians 12:31 King James Version (KJV)

"But covet earnestly the best gifts:"

Spiritual gifts are not talents; they are by-products or outcomes of divine impartation, an intense longing, laying on of hands, and viable service and faithful association with those who manifest their similarities. Having mentioned the best of spiritual gifts in my last article, some people uphold the gift of service as being the greatest spiritual gift, but here is the truth, everyone who is endowed with any form of spiritual gift is serving the Lord and others with it. So we are all rendering the gift of service in our various fields or varied descriptions of manifest grace.

When the Lord Jesus described the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 18:1-4 (NIV), He wasn't talking about the "gift of service" being the greatest spiritual gift. He was emphasizing on heaven's viewpoint in relation to lowly reverential effect or humble condition of the heart which is made evident in the way of serving or service. In a nutshell, being the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is entirely dissimilar to functioning with the best spiritual gifts or the gifts of service.

Let's swiftly acknowledge the associated versified passage below:

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And He said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me" (Matthew 18:1-4 NIV).

Now watch this: What was the question the disciples came to the Lord Jesus to ask Him?

"Who, then, is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" This question suggests "who" ranks the highest in heaven's Kingdom, not "who is the person with the best spiritual gifts, or the most spiritually-gifted person, or someone functioning with the gift of service." And what's more, the ultimate model of the greatest in the divine Kingdom is the exertion of tremendous level of selfless and mindful service, which only the Lord Jesus demonstrated in the highest degree through His sacrificial death on the cross, making Him the greatest of all (See Philippians 2:6-10 NIV).

However, one important thing that is worthy of notice about the gifts of serving or service is this: The gift is the power of life and light in a person. And this is how to know if the gift is exuding the influence of light and life: Even if no one notices the good you do in the house of God which is offering the sincere gift of service, or gives you a befitting applaud, would you still be functioning cheerfully with it? If not, you may be serving to be seen and approved by people. But when you keep serving heartily and giving the credit to God, whether or not you are noticed or appreciated, that's the evidence of life and light at work in you (see Colossians 3:23-24 NIV).

There are revelatory degrees of enduring impact linked to the gift of serving or service, and when inspired by the Spirit to serve wholeheartedly and selflessly, you'll always know and discern the full significance of your level of spiritual impact in God-inspired sight. This same manner of selfless interest and wholehearted attitudinal expressiveness is required of everyone while functioning with any kind of Spiritual gifts, or rendering any gift of the Spirit. To that effect, Romans 12:6-8 reads:

"Since our gifts vary, depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it is important that we exercise the gifts we have been given. If prophecy is your gift, then speak as a prophet according to your proportion of faith. If service is your gift, then serve well. If teaching is your gift, then teach well. If you have been given a voice of encouragement, then use it often. If giving is your gift, then be generous in doing so. If its leadership, then be eager to lead diligently. If its sharing God's mercy, then be cheerful in sharing it."

One more thing I have to convey as my conclusive statement is this:

Your glorious destiny is too precious to be wasted by wearing any pretentious character or "eye service" identity, while rendering any imposing design of spiritual gift. Therefore be practically and justly sincere while dealing with the things of the Spirit. Moreover, when you're genuinely interested in gaining profitable spiritual gifts and administering them wisely and wholeheartedly, you have to acknowledge the truth that there are people who will never appreciate or understand your purpose in manifesting your spiritual gifts in Christ, and therefore, such people can never play a meaningful part in your life's assignment. Until there is a detectable recognition from your end, that conditions you to admit their negative or incompatible effects, which is antithetical to your advantageous influence, they'll hang on to frustrate the grace of God associated with your purpose, as well as minimize your godly-empowered impact!

Therefore look out more for those saints and faithful associations whose spiritual display has the capacity to add meaningful value to your assignment, as you gear towards the realization or fulfilment of God's plan and purpose for you in Christ Jesus. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 1 Corinthians 7:7; 1 Corinthians 12:4-10; 1 Peter 4:10.

Exuberant Declaration:

I reflect the exceptional nature of the Holy Spirit in my Christian walk, and I'm totally confident in embracing the things of the Spirit, such as the best spiritual gifts, because they are life-changing gifts, and I pursue them daily as I exude the fruit of the Spirit, which is the right attitudinal expression. Praise God!