Skip to main content

"The Greatest Gift You Can Give: Yourself – Living the Five-Fold Calling

 

The Greatest Gift You Can Give: Yourself – Living the Five-Fold Calling

"And he gave some to be apostles; some to be prophets; some to be evangelists; some to be pastors and some to be teachers;"   Ephesians 4:11 KSB

   The greatest gift that you can give is yourself. It’s not your time, it’s you. It’s not your money, it’s you. When you are open, honest, and willing to share your life, that is the most powerful gift you can offer. You can give things without ever giving yourself. You can be physically present, giving your time, but still be mentally and emotionally absent. True giving requires vulnerability, transparency, and a willingness to let people in. Jesus modeled this perfectly. He didn’t just give Himself when He died on the cross, He gave Himself every day of His ministry. He poured into His apostles, discipled His followers, and touched the lives of the multitudes. When He broke the bread and said, “Take, eat; this is My body,” it was a continuation of what He had been doing all along, giving Himself completely. When He said, “This is My cup; drink,” it was because His life had already been a continual outpouring.

   Even in His ascension, Jesus kept giving. Ephesians 4:11 tells us that He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These gifts were His way of ensuring that even though He was no longer physically here, His presence and ministry would still be felt through the lives of His people. He gave Himself through His Spirit to empower and equip His Church. I like to call it “I Got Five on It”,

A person extending their hands forward, symbolizing giving oneself.

five distinct roles for one united purpose: building up the Body of Christ. So, let’s reflect: How many roles are there? For what purpose are they given? And how long should they operate? The answer is found in knowing your place in the five-fold calling. What is your primary area of ministry? Are you living it fully?

📖 Reflection: Are you giving yourself fully in your calling, or are you holding back parts of your life from being used by God?

💡 Action Step: Identify your primary role in the five-fold ministry and intentionally invest more of yourself into serving in that area this week.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Universe Means One Thing: Love

  Universe Means One Thing: Love "For all the law is fulfilled in this one word, love: Love your neighbor as yourself."   Galatians 5:14 (KSB)    Sometimes, the word “universe” can feel mysterious even spooky to some. Others think it's irreverent or sacrilegious when used in spiritual conversations. But what if we redefined it? What if “universe” simply meant love? What if it meant God, since God is love?  When we say, “the universe,” we can think of it as pointing to one word love. Just one word. The entire Bible, composed of 66 books and written by over 40 different authors, ultimately speaks to one central theme: love. From beginning to end, this divine book points us toward loving God, loving ourselves, and loving others.  In the Old Testament, God's people had 636 laws civil, ceremonial, and moral. They guided everything from relationships to religious festivals. But then Jesus came and said, “Let me make this simple Love God. Love yourself. L...
Post a Comment
Read more

Refocus Your Faith: How to Overcome Distraction, Disappointment, and Discouragement

  Refocus Your Faith: How to Overcome Distraction, Disappointment, and Discouragement "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."   Galatians 5:6 (KSB)    With everything going on around us, it's easy to feel lost. Distractions come quickly, disappointments pile up, and discouragement sneaks in. We all face these moments. But even when we get off track, there is a way back and that path is through our faith, principles, and core values.  When you live your life anchored in principles, it gives you a compass for when the road gets unclear. Knowing your vision, your mission, and your core values makes it easier to realign when life feels out of control. But if you don’t know who you are, how can you get back to being your best self? If you don’t know what you stand on, what can you stand up on after a fall?    Clarity of purpose keeps you ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hidden Treasure: You Are a Vessel, Not Just an Instrument

I AM Not an Instrument. I AM a Vessel “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” – 2 Corinthians 4:7 (KSB) Hidden in Plain Sight The image that Paul presents in 2 Corinthians 4 is that of a treasure hidden within an earthen vessel. In the Old Testament, people didn’t have locks, alarm systems, or cameras to protect their valuables. Instead, their belongings were often left exposed, making them vulnerable to thieves and robbers. To safeguard their most valuable treasures, they would hide them in jars of clay—earthen vessels—placing them in plain sight. A thief or robber would never think to look there because it wasn’t an obvious hiding place. Likewise, God has placed something valuable inside of you—a treasure of great worth. Yet, people often fail to see it. You may be right in front of them, but they don’t recognize your gifts, skills, talents, anointing, abilities, or sensitivities. You are hidden in plain sight bec...
Post a Comment
Read more