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“Spiritual Surprise”
Ephesians 4:7-10
Jay Quine's legal experience includes working as deputy prosecuting attorney and municipal court judge in Washington State. Dr. Jay A. Quine has also been in private legal practice focusing on business and corporate law and continues to provide consulting for religious and non-profit organizations concerning legal issues.
Dr. Jay A. Quine received his Masters in 1990 and Ph.D. in 1997 from the Dallas Theological Seminary; J. D. from the University of Idaho College of law in 1983 and his B. S. from Washington State University in 1980.
As we get older our lives significantly change. For example, once retired, we are no longer preoccupied with how to make a living, and the tasks before us at work. Likewise, our bodies change, so that even though we have the time to take lessons, we physically may not be able to play the piano like we have always dreamed—at least not learn as well as a child with nimble agile fingers. We can’t sing like we used to. We can’t think as clearly; bake as well; our timing is off. We don’t have the physical strength of our youth anymore. As the reality of aging truths mount it can conjure up a fear. “Afraid,” one older gentleman told me upon retirement, “I’m afraid of becoming useless.” One of the worst horrors of the human soul is the fear of being useless.
A study of spiritual gifts may surprise us in that we soon see we can lay aside the fear of becoming useless. It is not because God promises to keep us strong, or sharp, or on key as we grow old. Instead He promises to give us a gift that won’t fade, but only continue to mature and get better with age. This is because it is a supernatural thing—not dependent upon us or our decaying physical minds and bodies, but dependent upon the Spirit of God. And because it is a supernatural thing, not a natural but a spiritual gift, it has a unique purpose. As a result of fulfilling this purpose, that haunting feeling of uselessness vanishes.
Your spiritual gift is by God’s sovereign grace.
Ephesians 4:7
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”
Make sure you notice two things in this verse. First, spiritual gifts are given to “each one of us.” Each and every Christian, whether young or old, experienced or new in the faith, advanced or primitive, has a spiritual gift. We may not know what it is or how to use it, but the Lord has given it.
This leads to the second observation, that these gifts are “given.” They are bestowed by God. They are not things we acquired by our training (even though gifts can be developed as we mature) or by degree. Just like salvation, they are fully given as gifts by virtue of God’s grace.
However, unlike salvation they differ “according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” In other words, the Lord measures out a certain gift for one person, and a different gift for another all under His selection and control.
King David, Nicola Cordier,
