Confirming Our Spiritual Gifts and Calling
When God gives us spiritual gifts and calls us to a particular ministry in His kingdom, those gifts and our calling becomes evident to others around us. Sometimes, it is hard for us to see what they see, because we are too subjective. However, others can look objectively to confirm what God has done in our lives. That is exactly what happened in Samuel's life. (I Samuel 3:19,20) Let's use his example to help us see ourselves.
Since Samuel lived under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit was not yet coming to dwell in every believer, as He does now. However, when God called a man to be king or to be a prophet, the Holy Spirit came upon that person to empower and guide them, as long as they were serving the Lord. After Samuel came to know the Lord, he grew, and the Lord was with him. He grew physically, but he also grew spiritually in his relationship with God. It was evident that the Lord was with him. When he spoke the words that God gave him, they always came true. They never failed. The more people saw him and heard him speak, the more they confirmed that God had gifted him and called him to be a prophet.
Today, all believers have gifts that we receive to do God's work. The Holy Spirit lives in us, so He gives us just the gifts we need to carry out God's plan for us. Then, as we grow and serve the Lord, others can clearly see our gifts. When we feel called into a ministry, and we follow that calling, others can see the fruit of God working through us, and that confirms our calling, too. I hope you will be diligent to know your gifts and your calling, even if it takes asking others to give you their insights into how God has blessed you.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 4-6.
Since Samuel lived under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit was not yet coming to dwell in every believer, as He does now. However, when God called a man to be king or to be a prophet, the Holy Spirit came upon that person to empower and guide them, as long as they were serving the Lord. After Samuel came to know the Lord, he grew, and the Lord was with him. He grew physically, but he also grew spiritually in his relationship with God. It was evident that the Lord was with him. When he spoke the words that God gave him, they always came true. They never failed. The more people saw him and heard him speak, the more they confirmed that God had gifted him and called him to be a prophet.
Today, all believers have gifts that we receive to do God's work. The Holy Spirit lives in us, so He gives us just the gifts we need to carry out God's plan for us. Then, as we grow and serve the Lord, others can clearly see our gifts. When we feel called into a ministry, and we follow that calling, others can see the fruit of God working through us, and that confirms our calling, too. I hope you will be diligent to know your gifts and your calling, even if it takes asking others to give you their insights into how God has blessed you.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 4-6.