Hi, Friends.

As we reflect together over Advent on Jesus, what He came to bring to us, and how He impacts our lives as we await His return, I am taking a little time to write some short meditations on the gifts that He gives us through the power of His Holy Spirit living in us.

Last week we thought about the gift of faith–important because it is the gift by which we unwrap all the other gifts He wants to impart to us!

Next week and the week after I want to think about some of the more overtly supernatural gifts, but first I think it is important to recognize the depth and the importance of a very precious gift that He gives to us: the gift of service.

If faith unwraps all the gifts, service allows us to use them. Many of us can find ourselves feeling burned out, depressed, or stagnant if we start to neglect the service of others. This is not just about doing our jobs or performing tasks – it is about other-orientation and partnership with the Holy Spirit.

When Mary found that she was pregnant, she went to stay with Elizabeth who, though pregnant herself, was delighted to host her and to care for her needs (Luke 1:39-45). Elizabeth saw it as a privilege and a sign of God’s favor that she would be entrusted with caring for Mary.

Paul, writing to the Colossians, says, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Colossians 3:12-14)

When he begins to write about the overtly supernatural gifts, Paul emphasizes the focus on loving others that he has just taught in 1 Corinthians 13 and says, "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 14:1a).

So often, we are drawn to the more prominent gifts such as teaching or leadership, or perhaps even to the overtly supernatural ones like prophecy or healing. However, there is a ‘bedrock gift’ that underpins these and reflects the heart of Jesus before we can emulate the ministry of Jesus – the gift of service. 

Jesus made this explicit in Matthew 20: 25-28:

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Have you used the faith that Jesus has given you to ‘unwrap’ the gift of serving others? Serving by faith and not just out of duty? How is the Holy Spirit asking you to serve? Have you grown weary of doing this (Galatians 6:9) and in need of a fresh word of faith to renew your commitment to service?

How is God getting your attention as you read this? How do you think He is prompting you to respond?

Advent Blessings,

Paul Maconochie
Uptick Leader