Spiritual Gifts for You Today

We have all heard the term, "charisma" but did you know that the original meaning coming from Greek meant spiritual gifts from God, not a compelling charm and attraction as it means today. According to the Biblical stories, especially from Paul, there are various gifts that we all could be granted in order to help others. They are not to be earned, purchased or used as rewards. In other words, they are given to us by the higher power for the benefit of everyone. It's a nice idea and perhaps it has happened many times. Here's a passage from Wikipedia about the different spiritual gifts.

It is generally acknowledged that Paul did not list all of the gifts of the Spirit,[8] and many believe that there are as many gifts as there are needs in the body of Christ.[12] The gifts have at times been organized into distinct categories based on their similarities and differences to other gifts. Some divide them into three categories using Old Testament offices. "Prophetic" gifts include any gift involving teaching, encouraging, or rebuking others. "Priestly" gifts include showing mercy and care for the needy or involve intercession before God. "Kingly" gifts are those involving church administration or government.[13] Others categorize them into "gifts of knowledge" (word of wisdom, word of knowledge, distinguishing between spirits), "gifts of speech" (tongues, interpretation, prophecy), and "gifts of power" (faith, healing, miracles).[14] The gifts have also been categorized as those that promote the inner growth of the church (apostle, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, teaching, word of wisdom/knowledge, helps, and administration) and those that promote the church's outer development (faith, miracles, healing, tongues, interpretation of tongues).[8] To read more click here.

Apparently one of the reasons for the early split between the Catholics and Protestants involved this type of spiritualism. The Catholics believe that these types of miracles continue while the Protestants think they ceased in the early days of the church. They are still held as a strong belief by the Pentecostals and the Charismatics (yes, there is such a group). I quite agree myself that they are still being given to certain people and indeed there is a line on some palms called the ring of Solomon that show inspiration - a gift from a higher source. I've seen people from all walks of life who have this line and indeed I consider them blessed. What do you think? Leave a comment as to you ideas or experience.