“For He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].” (2 Timothy 1:9 AMP)
Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts survey/test? I’ve done several of these over the years. According to these assessments, my spiritual gifts seem to be aligned with my natural talents. I’m not sure if this is always the case.
All gifts are God-given. Our natural abilities are genetically traceable, nurtured by our environment, and life-long. We often use these talents for our own benefit and advancement. Supernatural gifts don’t always match our natural inclinations. There is an element of surprise to them; we are not sure how we came to possess these gifts. There is something unexpected about them--like a fifty-year-old who suddenly grows two inches taller. They don’t make sense; they are counterintuitive. We can be sure that these supernatural gifts are from God, because they are not an extension of our natural talents.
Spiritual gifts are not based on personal merit, but on God’s unmerited favor. They cannot be traced to our genetic makeup or environmental factors. These talents are not meant for personal advancement but for God’s glory. We must be aware that these supernatural abilities are given by the Holy Spirit. We are to use these spiritual gifts to live consecrated lives-- lives set apart for God’s purpose and grace.
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