Page 88 Ac 22:14 Then he said: `The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. Ro 2:18 . . . if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law. Ro 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. 2Co 8:5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Eph 6:6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Col 4:12 Epaphras . . . is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 1Th 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality. 1Th 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Heb 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will
Trying to put many biblical concepts together, I would define a gift as a combination of personal desire, natural propensities and learned abilities. Obviously, all of this must be given to us by the grace of God, hence a gift. And for that reason they are often spoken of as “grace-gifts.”
Curtis Thomas