Romans 12:6–8

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The Bible teaches us that we are each fearfully and wonderfully made to glorify God in

every aspect of our being. God’s unique design for each of us is intentional and

complete, encompassing every dimension. You are His masterpiece.

 

Jeremiah says, “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew you intimately. I had divine

plans for you before I gave you life, and I set you apart and chose you to be mine. You

are my prophetic gift to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5, The Passion Translation) David

says, “You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate

outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. I thank you, God, for making

me so mysteriously complex!” (Psalm 139:13-14, The Passion Translation).

 

These Scriptures combine to show that God made you to serve Him and others according to

designs that reflect His inexpressible majesty and beauty. The more we understand how

these designs work, the better we are able to glorify Him with power in righteousness.

The Bible reveals three areas of design that shape our callings and service to God and

man.

 

The Church is most familiar with the Five-Fold offices described in Ephesians 4:11-13, which give

us Apostles, Prophets,Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers for the development of the Church and

the ministrygifts described in 1 Corinthians 12, whereby the Holy Spirit empowers all believers to minister to the Body of Christ and the world as God leads.

 

Often overlooked is the most fundamental level of equipping and design, which we refer

to as the Redemptive Gifts. Romans 12:4-6 describes gifts that are given to us

individually and combine to reflect the nature of God collectively. These gifts give shape

to our personalities, with specific strengths that edify in particular ways. This is much

more the personality types described by Myers-Briggs (MBTI), Enneagram, the Big Five,

etc. This is a holy description of God’s design of your personality and capacity to

express His nature. The better you understand these truths about yourself, the better

you are able to love and serve Him and others.

 

Below, you will find a test to help you determine your Redemptive Gifts, distinct from the

five-fold gifts and ministry gifts. Most of us have two, no more than three. Only Jesus, in

His perfection embodies all seven (7) redemptive gifts fully and without deficiency.

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