A Christ-Centered Christmas Doesn't Have to Be HardSmakprov

One Size Doesn’t Fit All While watching some old home videos, I was reminded of a particular Christmas event that took place and gave our family a hearty laugh. With the presents evenly distributed around the room, it was time to open the gifts. Our, then, four-year-old son eyed his gifts with eager anticipation, anxiously waiting for his turn to be in the spotlight. When the time finally came, Ben chose a rectangular box from his pile—a package which conspicuously looked as though clothing may be inside. Sure enough, after removing the colorful wrapping, Ben pulled out a pair of jeans and held them up. We all sat there with confused looks on our faces because the jeans were a good six inches longer than his entire body. In a matter-of-fact tone, our son informed us, “I think we’re gonna have to get a different size.” We all started laughing hysterically. Apparently, during the gift distribution, someone mistakenly read the name tag that was labeled BEV and gave it to BEN. The jeans were supposed to be for my mother-in-law. Ben didn’t need a different size—he had opened the wrong gift! Sometimes a similar scenario takes place in our spiritual lives. We open gifts that were never intended for us. “Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 12:1). The previous devotion talked about spiritual gifts and how they are to be used for growing God’s Kingdom. Some of the spiritual gifts are evangelism, teaching, speaking, leadership, mercy, discernment, prophecy, service, administration, faith, knowledge, healing, wisdom, and hospitality. We may see someone using their spiritual gifts to effectively grow God’s Kingdom and reason with ourselves that we could just as easily do the same thing. Here is an example. Jeremey has the gift of teaching. He really knows his stuff and is able to explain what he has learned in ways that people can understand and apply to their own lives. When Tim comes along and sees the way Jeremey is doing his part to advance the Kingdom of God, he tries to emulate what he does. Unfortunately, Tim’s spiritual gift is not teaching, therefore he ends up leaving his students bewildered and confused because he is trying to harness a gift that was never intended for him to use. We will be most effective in growing God’s Kingdom when we use the spiritual gifts intended for us—not others. All the gifts in the body of Christ are equally important, and each one is meant to build up the church and bring glory and honor to God. Try to recognize your spiritual gifts and implement them in the arena where God has placed you—the field where you can be most effective for growing God’s Kingdom. Like my son, be quick to recognize when a gift is not meant for you. The jeans may have been too big for Ben, but they were the perfect size for my mother-in-law. Personal Reflection * When we are operating in our spiritual gifts, they often flow from us effortlessly. Which of the following spiritual gifts come most naturally and bring you the most joy when you operate in them? (Evangelism, teaching, speaking, leadership, mercy, discernment, prophecy, service, administration, faith, knowledge, healing, wisdom, and hospitality.) Prayer Lord, I pray that you would lead me to amazing opportunities that allow me to use all of the spiritual gifts that you have given me. Thank you for answered prayer. Amen.