When you understand how God has uniquely shaped you, then you know what purpose he has created you for. Understanding that purpose helps you to focus your life and make better use of the time God has given you on this earth.

The moment you step across the line spiritually and begin following Jesus, you say, “I’m going to go God’s way, not my own way. I’m going to let him direct my life. I want to follow God’s purpose, not my purpose. I’m going to do what I was wired and made to do.”

When you take that step, God first gives you four major gifts:

Forgiveness
Romans 5:15 says, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ” (NLT). The first thing Jesus did was wipe out everything you’ve ever done wrong. It’s forgiven! There is no condemnation.

Eternal life
God has long-range plans for you. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV). You’re never going to work your way or earn your way into heaven. The only way you’ll ever get into heaven is by God’s free gift that you accept by faith.

The Holy Spirit
Romans 5:5 says that God “has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (NLT). How do you know when you’re letting God live through your life? When you embody the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Special abilities
In the Bible, these special abilities are called spiritual gifts, which makes them different from material or physical gifts. They are the abilities you need to do the job that God wants you to do. Most people who are believers don’t even know they’ve got spiritual gifts, much less what they are. But you have them!

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person” (GW).

What is a spiritual gift? God has a purpose for your life, and your spiritual gifts are the equipment he gives you to do what he asks you to do. God will never ask you to do something he doesn’t give you the ability to do. It’s given to you the moment you accept Christ.

You don’t get to choose your gifts. And you don’t earn your gifts. They’re also not for your benefit. Your spiritual gifts are given to you to help other people. And other people in the church family are given their gifts to help you.

For instance, some people have the gift of serving, and others are gifted with generosity. There are people who are gifted as teachers, and others who are gifted as leaders. These are just a few examples of spiritual gifts.

When I use my spiritual gift of teaching, you get blessed. When you use your spiritual gift, the people in your church get blessed. It’s like a puzzle. If you have one jigsaw piece missing, what’s the first thing you notice? The one missing piece. When we develop and use our spiritual gifts, we all get blessed.