by We often think of gifts as personal treasures, something to enjoy and hold onto. But in the Kingdom of God, gifts are meant to be given away. The gifts God gives us through His Spirit are designed not for our own glory but to serve others and build up His church. Let us explore Romans 12:3-8, where the Apostle Paul speaks to us about the spiritual gifts given by grace and how we are called to use them in service to one another as the body of Christ.
Each of the spiritual gifts mentioned in this passage begins with an important truth: these are gifts of grace, freely given by God for His glory and the good of others. To help us remember, let’s organize these thoughts under three key points—Recognize, Respond, and Reflect.
1. Recognize the giver. (Romans 12:3)
Verse 3 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”
Paul reminds us to approach this topic with humility. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think with sober judgment.” Each gift we have is a gift, not a result of our own efforts. They are given by the Spirit according to God’s grace.
Thomas Watson once said, “All that we receive from God is mercy. Whatever we have is either what He lends us or what He gives us.” We must recognize that every spiritual gift we possess is a merciful gift from the hand of God.
Recognizing that God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17) will keep us humble and grateful.
2. Respond by serving. (Romans 12:4-7)
Verses 4-7 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;”
Paul uses the analogy of a body. Just as the physical body has many parts with different functions, so too does the body of Christ. We are all members of one another, each with unique roles.
The gifts Paul lists: prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership & mercy are meant to be put into action. They are not theoretical gifts but practical ones.
As Richard Baxter once said, “You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.” In the same way, we are responsible not only for what we do, but also for what we fail to do with the gifts God has given us. If you have the gift of teaching, teach! If it’s serving, serve! The spiritual gifts are tools meant for use in building up the body of Christ.
We must respond to the call by actively using our gifts. Not using them would be burying the talents God has entrusted to us.
3. Reflect God’s heart (Romans 12:8)
Verse 8 “the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Finally, our use of spiritual gifts must reflect the heart of God. How we use these gifts matters. Paul highlights attitudes: giving should be done with generosity, leadership with zeal, and acts of mercy with cheerfulness. These aren’t just skills; they are reflections of God’s own heart—generous, passionate, and merciful.
John Owen reminds us, “If the love of Christ does not compel us, we have no true power in ministry.” Our service must come from a heart shaped by God’s love, reflecting His mercy, grace, and passion for people.
When we use our gifts with the right heart, we show the world who God is. Each act of service becomes a reflection of God’s character and His love for His people.
CONCLUSION
Brothers and sisters, we are all members of Christ’s body, each with a role to play. God has graciously given us gifts, and He calls us to recognize His hand in our lives, respond by serving, and reflect His heart in everything we do. May our lives reflect the gifts we’ve been given and the One who gave them.
As we walk in these gifts, we glorify God, build up His church, and fulfill His purpose for us. Let us be faithful stewards of the gifts of grace, serving one another with love and joy.
May we each hear these words one day: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
