Worthy Brief - 1/5/2026
Friend, you've been entrusted with spiritual gifts for Kingdom impact!
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Spiritual gifts are not optional extras in the Christian life -- they are divinely commanded pursuits. Scripture does not tell us to passively wait for gifts to appear; it commands us to desire them earnestly. This desire does not arise from ambition or comparison, but from identity. When we understand who we are in Yeshua (Jesus), we begin to long for the tools necessary to carry His life into the world.
Paul teaches that there are different kinds of gifts, services, and workings, yet the same Spirit distributes them to each one individually as He wills. This means no believer is overlooked, and no gift is wasted. The Spirit intentionally places gifts within us, aligning them with our calling, purpose, and assignment. To desire spiritual gifts is not to seek status -- it is to seek usefulness in the hands of God.
God commands us to covet the gifts because they are how His power and compassion are released on the earth. Gifts are not for personal elevation; they are for Kingdom impact. They are expressions of God’s identity flowing through surrendered lives. When identity is secure, gifts are exercised freely, humbly, and boldly. When identity is weak, gifts are either suppressed through fear or misused through performance. But when identity is rooted in Yeshua, gifts become instruments of love, healing, wisdom, and truth.
Each spiritual gift is designed to impact the world for Him. They are given individually, but never intended to remain private. The Spirit entrusts gifts to believers so that heaven can touch broken places through ordinary people. Whether through words of wisdom, acts of mercy, prophetic encouragement, healing, or service, the gifts of the Spirit reveal the nearness of God and the reality of His Kingdom.
To desire spiritual gifts is to desire partnership with God’s mission. It is to say, “Lord, use my life to reveal Your heart.” The new creation does not shrink back from this calling -- they lean into it. They ask, they receive, and they steward what has been entrusted to them, knowing that obedience releases impact and faithfulness multiplies fruit.
Friend, stir your heart to desire what God has commanded you to desire. Awaken to the gifts the Spirit has placed within you, not for your glory, but for the salvation of the world. Lay aside fear, false humility, and hesitation, and step fully into your God-given assignment. Let heaven move through you with power, wisdom, and compassion. Your spiritual gifts are given to you so that God can impact the world through you. Rise now, yield boldly, and release what has been entrusted to you -- this is your calling, and this is your hour to serve in the power of the Spirit.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)
Scores of Men Killed in South Africa’s Circumcision Practices, Sparking Spiritual Debate
At least 41 young men have died in South Africa from complications linked to circumcision procedures performed during annual traditional initiation rites, authorities said, reigniting debate over the practice.
Criminal Investigations After Swiss Bar Fire Kills Dozens (Worthy News Radio)
As Switzerland was plunged into mourning, Swiss prosecutors said Saturday they have placed under criminal investigation the two managers of a bar where a blaze on New Year's Day killed at least 40 people.
Search Intensified For Missing Spanish Family After Tourist Boat Sinks In Indonesia
Indonesian authorities have intensified the search for a Spanish father and his children missing after a traditional wooden tourist boat sank near Padar Island, off the coast of eastern Indonesia, close to the world-famous Komodo National Park.
Bulgaria Adopts Euro Amid Celebration And Public Concern
Bulgaria has formally consigned its longtime national currency, the lev, to history after entering the euro zone on New Year’s Day, becoming the 21st member of the single-currency bloc despite lingering concerns among citizens that the move could fuel higher prices.
World Leaders Call For UN Response After Maduro Capture
The international community is reacting to the news that President Donald Trump announced early in the morning on social media: The U.S. carried out a series of strikes on Venezuela overnight and apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
U.S. Says Maduro Ousted After Caracas Strikes; Trump Claims America Will “Run” Venezuela Temporarily
U.S. President Donald J. Trump said Saturday that the United States will temporarily “run” Venezuela after American forces carried out large-scale military strikes in the capital Caracas and detained Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, according to U.S. officials.
Powerful Quake Rocks Mexico; Several Killed And Injured
At least two people were killed and more than a dozen injured after a powerful earthquake struck southern and central Mexico, briefly halting President Claudia Sheinbaum's first press conference of the year, officials said Saturday.
Two Teenagers Killed In Amsterdam Shooting Raising Migration Concerns
Two teenage asylum seekers were shot and killed on New Year’s Day in a park of the Dutch capital’s Nieuw-West (New West) district, raising concerns about tensions within migrant communities and public safety in Amsterdam and across the Netherlands, Dutch police said Friday.
Switzerland Mourning As 40 Die In Massive Bar Blaze (Worthy News Radio)
Swiss investigators have begun the grimming process of identifying victims of a blaze that ripped through a bar in the Swiss Alps town of Crans-Montana, killing at least 40 people and injuring some 115 persons.
US Captures Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro In Strikes; Leader Flown Out Of Country
U.S. President Donald J. Trump confirmed early Saturday that the United States has “successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country.”
Russia Launches 200 Drones On New Year’s Day’
Ukraine’s president said Russia deliberately carried its war into the New Year by launching more than 200 attack drones overnight, striking multiple regions across the country amid freezing winter conditions.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel, Syria to Resume U.S.-Mediated Talks as Trump Presses for Security Deal
Senior Israeli and Syrian officials are set to resume high-level negotiations this week in talks mediated by the United States, marking a renewed diplomatic push after months of stalled progress, according to reports by i24NEWS and Axios.
Trump, Netanyahu: Hamas Must Disarm for Peace Plan to Move Forward
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump has been “unequivocal” that Hamas must fully disarm as a non-negotiable condition for advancing Trump’s proposed 20-point peace plan.
Inside the United States
Congress Faces Govt. Shutdown Date, Health Care Bills, Epstein On Return
Congress faces a mountain of political challenges when it resumes session next week, including a potential government shutdown, a health care affordability crisis, and the ongoing release of the Epstein files.
U.S. Senate Races Will Decide Balance Of Congress In 2026
The U.S. Senate could see a major shakeup in 2026 as Democrats and Republicans battle for control of Congress.
Christian News
Tens Of Thousands Of Christians Celebrate Christmas and the New Year In Indonesia’s Capital (VIDEO)
Tens of thousands of Christians have been celebrating Christmas and the New Year in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, defying concerns about rising Islamic extremism in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.