When I was in Middle School, my class began our academic year by taking a trip up to the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. The goal was to provide a way to make friends in a fun and adventurous way. I think back to how cool it was conceptually that my school chose to do something like that.

I use the word “conceptually” because I did not go.  I elected to stay home. For no good reason. Since that trip, I have had other invitations to ski and snowboard over the last 17 years. I have declined them all. Why? I don’t really have a good practical reason. But I do have an identity reason. 

As a result of not being a part of that first adventurous trip in middle school, an identity was implanted into my teenage mind; I am not a skier or snowboarder. That identity has lived on throughout my life. Perhaps, you have had a similar experience in your spiritual life.

In 1 Corinthians 12:1-3, the Apostle Paul begins to lay out for us his teaching on what we refer to as the “Spiritual Gifts.”  He writes in verse 1, “Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.” Why do we need to be informed? Because exercising our spiritual gifts matter deeply for the good of the church.

Over the next three weeks, Pastor Shawn will be teaching on spiritual gifts, and we’ll be focusing on them in these devotionals. If you are aware of your gifts and regularly use them to advance God’s kingdom here on earth, praise God! Keep going and keep sharing them with God’s people!

But maybe you are like me when it comes to winter sports, and you are not even considering taking the plunge down the slopes. Or maybe you are convinced you don’t have gifts, don’t know what they are, or how to use them. If you’re someone who is uncomfortable thinking about spiritual gifts, don’t let your past identity around spiritual gifts keep you from exploring what God has for you. Apostle Paul encourages us to not just know conceptually but know experientially what your God-given spiritual gifts are.  Let’s take this journey through the gifts together. See you at the top of the hill!

Today: Ask God: “Lord, am I using the spiritual gifts that you have given me? Are there spiritual gifts you have given me that I need to exercise more?