Beneficial Gifts

Some people give clothing subscription boxes as graduation gifts.

These boxes come regularly in the mail with a variety of garments that are often chosen based on a quiz concerning the receiver’s preferred styling. The clothes that the receivers end up wearing partially reflect the giver. This is because the giver chooses a particular subscription company.

Jesus gives us practical gifts for the purpose of showing and telling others about Him and His plan to save us. Unlike some clothing items, however, these gifts were not intended to be something used strictly for our own pleasure. Instead, they were designed to bring others into a saving relationship with Him. Neither are gifts given when our hearts are not right with God. (See Acts 8:21.)

The author of the letter to the Hebrews explained that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were a way for God to show the importance and authenticity of His plan of salvation: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (Hebrews 2:3, 4).

The first example of the reception of the gifts came on the day of Pentecost after Christ’s ascension. On that day, Peter explained that the ability to speak foreign languages was evidence that Jesus had been enthroned in heaven: “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).

This enthronement meant that Jesus was truly the promised Savior whose life, death, resurrection, and heavenly ministry give Him the authority to save people from their sins and from the suffering of death.

Apply It:

Put a dormant talent to use again.

Dig Deeper:

Luke 24:49; Ephesians 4:11; John 15:26, 27

Key Bible Texts

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8 KJV)