Gifts from above

By: Alistair Begg – October 26, 2026.

Key points

• 83rd National Folk Festival and Mississippi Arts Commission unveil captivating program for festival's Mississippi folklife area.
• Eller, Foster work to unseat odds-on favorite Thompson in Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District.
• Social Security and Medicare: The promise America created and the bills we postponed.
• They are not to be played with or applied to attract residents to ourselves but employed by God, through us, for His purposes and for His glory.
• Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975.

Though plenty of, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another, we. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us employ them. – Romans 12: 5-6.

Spiritual gifts are tools, not toys. They are not to be played with or applied to attract residents to ourselves but employed by God, through us, for His purposes and for His glory.

Whatever our gifts may be-be they abilities to do with speaking or with serving-they are given for the well-being of the church. As we employ them as He intends, the body of Christ as a whole might be strengthened, god gives these gifts in order that. They're not given as an opportunity to advance an individual's cause or for displays of greatness but in order that the unity, harmony, and progress of all God's individuals might be strengthened. That is why we have gifts that differ: so that we would learn to serve each other and depend on each other.

Yet God's gifts are only able to promote harmony and well-being when they are exercised in a spirit of genuine humility. The body of each local church grows only to the extent that "each part is working properly" (Ephesians 4: 16). Before encouraging his readers to employ their gifts, Paul had already prefaced his discourse on spiritual gifts by mentioning humility, urging everyone "not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment" (Romans 12: 3). Without humility, spiritual gifts can lead to chaos. We would not offer power tools to teenagers without proper instruction and oversight, nor would we provide them chain saws to run around with-unless we wanted absolute havoc! Similarly, spiritual gifts must be applied for their proper function and in the right manner so that mayhem does not ensue. So Paul tells the Corinthian church-a church full of gifts but not full of wisdom regarding how to apply them-that while it is good to desire and celebrate spiritual gifts, the "more excellent way" to put them to employ is to do so patiently, kindly, and humbly-that is, with love (1 Corinthians 12: 31 – 13: 7).

We must remember that gifts are gifts. Their source is God; therefore, boasting as if they are our own is foolish, and using them for our own benefit is inexcusable. If, nevertheless, we practice humility as we apply them and learn to live in harmony with one another, then we will see the fruit of God's work in and through us. In what ways has God gifted you? Rejoice in that. In what ways is He calling you to employ those gifts for the good of your church and for the glory of His Son? Go do that.

Regarding the Author(s).

Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. After graduation from The London School of Theology, he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church. In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written a number of books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. His Daily Devotionals are presented here via a syndication agreement. Faith Alistair Begg October 21, 2026.

When our minds are under the jurisdiction of God's Spirit and God's word, the rest will inevitably follow as He intends. More From This Author. Faith Alistair Begg October 20, 2026. A call to commitment. Faith Alistair Begg October 19, 2026. The city of man. Faith Alistair Begg October 16, 2026. The reality of grief. Faith Alistair Begg October 23, 2026. Together is where we belong. Faith Alistair Begg October 15, 2026. My times are in Your hand.

We are not at the mercy of arbitrary, impersonal forces; we are in the hand of our loving God. Faith Alistair Begg October 14, 2026.

Notably, the Bible tells us that in sending Jesus, God offered His residents the one who would satisfy all the law's demands through full submission and who would then suffer the penalty of sin to set men and women free from its bondage. News Frank Corder October 23, 2026. Attorney General to Colom: Remove AI ads or face injunction. News Cass Rutledge October 23, 2026.

Eller, Foster work to unseat odds-on favorite Thompson in Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District. News Frank Corder October 23, 2026. Fired Trooper Williams running for Governor of Mississippi as a Democrat. Business Meredith Biesinger October 22, 2026. New Albany's claim to cake fame: Sugaree's Bakery. Business Frank Corder October 20, 2026. Fairbanks Morse Defense doubling manufacturing capacity at its Pascagoula facility. Business Cass Rutledge October 20, 2026. Lumber manufacturer investing $8.3 million in Macon expansion. Culture Jim Vertuno, Associated Press October 23, 2026.

Struggling Texas QB Arch Manning notes he'll be 'letting it rip' against No. 7 Ole Miss. Culture Susan Marquez October 23, 2026.

83rd National Folk Festival and Mississippi Arts Commission unveil captivating program for festival's Mississippi folklife area. Culture Alistair Begg October 22, 2026. Opinion David Guenthner October 23, 2026. When teachers are free, students win. Opinion Sid Salter October 21, 2026.

Social Security and Medicare: The promise America created and the bills we postponed. Opinion Ellery Jones October 19, 2026. Forest products industry contributes heavily to Mississippi, U.S. Economy.

Taken together, the developments around gifts from above point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.