By Jane Fryar and Kristin Schultz

“That child is truly gifted!”

It’s one thing when enthusiastic grandparents or a doting aunt says something like that. It’s another thing altogether when a renowned art critic, a major-league manager, or an academic recruiter from an Ivy League university says it.

Few of us would place ourselves in the “truly gifted” category. But each of God’s children belongs there. Truly! Our heavenly Father is a giver, generous beyond all imagining. He always has been. He always will be:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17 ESV).

Whether we realize it or not, every good thing in life comes to us as a gift from God. Home and family. Friends and work. Food, clothing, and shelter. Sunshine, rain, and much more besides. Above all, from our Father’s generous hand, we receive forgiveness for all our sins. We enjoy the peace Jesus earned for us on Calvary’s cross.

But there’s even more! Those of us who have come to know and love Jesus have received an additional, special gifting, one that goes beyond our natural talents and abilities. The Bible tells us:

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace (1 Peter 4:10 ESV).

You are gifted. Truly! Each of God’s children has received a spiritual gift. That includes you! But it’s easy to shrug this off, to miss its significance. It’s easy to brush it off, to say, “No. That doesn’t apply to me.” Don’t do that! Instead, let God’s promise sink in.

By gifting you, the Lord has made significant service possible for you. Your natural talents and abilities are God’s good gifts, gifts from your kind, wise Creator. Even so, they will take you only so far. They will allow you to do only so much.

But by giving spiritual gifts to each of his children, our heavenly Father makes significant service - far-reaching and purpose-filled spiritual service - possible. How exciting is that?!

To get a glimpse of it, just imagine the angels of heaven standing on tiptoes to see all that God, in grace, is inviting you to do today. Listen in as they remark, “That child is truly gifted!”