Open and activate your grace gift

Christmas as a child was very exciting! I always looked forward to opening every gift no matter how small or big.

The older we as children got the gifts became more practical. As an adult and married couple my wife and I struggle every year to surprise each other with something that is both practical and personal.

Ephesians 4:7-8 says “And he has generously given each one of us supernatural grace, according to the size of the gift of Christ. This is why he says: “He ascends into the heavenly heights taking his many captured ones with him, and gifts were given to men.”

The Scriptures teach us that when we were born again we all received gifts from Jesus that are both personal and practical. I cannot imagine anyone leaving a gift unopened and unused, but many disciples today do just that.

Romans 12:6-8 says “God’s marvelous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts. So if God has given you the grace-gift of prophecy, activate your gift by using the proportion of faith you have to prophesy. If your grace-gift is serving, then thrive in serving others well. If you have the grace-gift of teaching, then be actively teaching and training others. If you have the grace-gift of encouragement, then use it often to encourage others. If you have the grace-gift of giving to meet the needs of others, then may you prosper in your generosity without any fanfare. If you have the gift of leadership, be passionate about your leadership. And if you have the gift of showing compassion, then flourish in your cheerful display of compassion.”

Grace is given, but grace has to be applied to benefit us and those to whom those gifts are intended to bless.

What holds many disciples back from opening and using these gifts is a sense of unworthiness and insecurity because of the magnitude of the gift. That is the point of grace!

We are unworthy in ourselves of anything and everything that Jesus bestows on us! Undeserved favor is extended on the basis of what Jesus provided for us, not because we earned it or have any special talents that we can offer to Him!

Ephesians 4:16 says “For his ‘body’ has been formed in his image and is closely joined together and constantly connected as one. And every member has been given divine gifts to contribute to the growth of all; and as these gifts operate effectively throughout the whole body, we are built up and made perfect in love.

The blessing of these grace-gifts is that when we activate and use these gifts as intended we all benefit! Let us make sure we do not leave a gift unopened or unused! Open and activate your grace gift so we can all benefit!