On the Seventh Day of Christmas...

Here’s a brief blog series on each of the 12 days of Christmas, with Christian meanings.

 
On the seventh day of Christmas, my True Love [God] gave to me:

Seven swans a-swimming

Seven Spirit Gifts
 
Romans 12:6-8:
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
1)     if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
2)     or ministry, let us use it in our ministering;
3)     he who teaches, in teaching;
4)     he who exhorts, in exhortation;
5)     he who gives, with liberality;
6)     he who leads, with diligence;
7)     he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
 
While not an exhaustive list, Paul conveys here the diversity of abilities in the body of Christ, that each need to work together for the body to function as one and be effective.
 
There may be some overlap with natural abilities here, but the context of Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 makes clear that God intentionally by His Spirit gives us specific gifts and graces.
 
The practical point is to use them.  Do what you’re good at!

Those who have studied the biblical shepherd’s lifestyle tell me that shepherds threw rocks a lot.  Israel is a very rocky land, and sheep are easily frightened.  So an easy way to move sheep was to throw a rock to a place you want them to move away from.  They were precision rock throwers, often with a sling.  So when David stands before Goliath, he uses the gift he’s been given, instead of going with the world’s usual method (Saul’s armor).
 
What gifts has God given you?  How will you use them in 2022?