Romans 12:6-8: “God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” [NLT]
We can do “certain things well.” Isn’t that delightful! Paul says that if God has given you the ability to prophesy, then speak out! Prophecy is just speaking forth the Word of God with reference to the past, the present, or even the future. If you have faith God is speaking through you, then speak.
If you are a server, then serve well. My husband is a server. He cringes if anyone wants him to speak in public but put him behind the scenes to repair a leaky church toilet or pull down an unwanted building, or pick up the trash, or paint the nursery, then he’s in his glory.
If your job is to encourage, then do it. In any and every way possible! If you are a giver, then give; a leader, then lead. And if mercy is the cry of your heart, then render kindness to others with a cheerful and glad heart.
What motivates you? When you see a bad situation, what is the first thing you want to do? Do you want to run up and hold the person, or do you want to try to fix the problem with financial assistance? Usually what our strongest motivation at that moment is our strongest gift.
I have acted in all the gifts in some measure. I can speak forth the Word of God. I’ve served and led and given mercy. I’ve contributed money and I’ve taught. But my motivation to do those things has always been because I’m an encourager at heart. It is the reason why I do everything I do. It influences everything. It is my heart gift, to encourage others, whatever avenue that encouragement takes. Have you thought about what your gift is?