“WITH PASSION AND EXCELLENCE”

“the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Romans 12:8

I am impressed by people who do things with excellence and passion. Such a person can make my day. Stephen Curry is a well-known basketball player, but he is admired not only for his skills but also for his heart. It is a joy to watch him play. Even when watching from a TV screen, you can feel the rise in energy when he steps into the court. His strict training regimen and dedication to long-range shooting made him one of the most dangerous offensive players in the NBA and without a doubt, the best shooter to ever play the game. His impact is so significant that he practically changed the game of basketball.

As we continue our study on church life, specifically on Romans 12:8, we can draw inspiration from Steph Curry to challenge ourselves to serve the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This section in Romans 12 is one of the places in the Bible, where Paul discusses spiritual gifts and why Christians must use them to help build up the church. Last week, we learned three of them (prophecy, serving, and teaching). Let’s talk about the other four.

The fourth spiritual gift in this passage is exhortation, which is the gift that allows a believer to develop relationships with others for spiritual growth. It may be used negatively to admonish and correct a sinning brother, or positively, to encourage and strengthen struggling Christians (MacArthur). A person with the gift of exhortation enjoys studying God’s Word and is involved in the ministries of teaching, training, counseling, and discipleship. They are the ones who don’t mind spending time with struggling believers and helping them get back on track.

Generosity in giving is the fifth gift on this list. It is defined as “the gift of being kind and unselfish”, especially in terms of sharing money and possessions with others.

Leadership, also known as “administering” is a gift that is essential to the proper operations of a ministry. The Greek verb is translated as “to rule” or “to govern,” and is used to refer to someone who is set over others and cares for them. People with this gift understand that their position comes from God, and they are not absolute rulers but are themselves subject to the authority of the Lord. A true leader knows that he is a slave of Christ and a servant of others, not a tyrant or dictator that demands submission from those under him.

The seventh and last gift in this passage is the gift of mercy. Paul encourages his readers with this gift to exercise it cheerfully, not reluctantly. Mercy goes above and beyond mere sympathy toward others; it is love in action. It is the God-given compassion for the weak, helpless, and exploited. A person with this gift addresses the spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial needs of others. The Lord Jesus calls merciful people “blessed” and promises them that they will receive mercy themselves.

I hope our short study on spiritual gifts helped you identify and understand this topic and desire to use them and help build up the church. You may not have as much of an impact as Steph Curry or any other celebrity. But still, in your little ways, you can bring glory to God by utilizing your gifts with excellence and passion.

Do you see any of these gifts in your life? If so, in what ways are you using them?

Pursue the Savior today!