I Corinthians 12:1-11 (NRSV)
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Chapter 12Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. Verse 2You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Verse 3Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. Verse 4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; Verse 5and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; Verse 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. Verse 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. Verse 8To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, Verse 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, Verse 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. Verse 11All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
Devotion
My church has a number of full-time staff. They include an efficient office administrator, a talented minister of music, a handful of caring children, youth and family staff, a conscientious lead custodian, and of course, a few pastors. Is any member of the staff more important than the rest? That’s hard to say. Without the office administrator, the bills wouldn’t get paid. Without the minister of music, worship wouldn’t get planned. Without the CYF staff, faith wouldn’t get passed on to kids. Without the custodians, the building would be a mess. Without the pastors, sermons wouldn’t get preached. Despite our varied responsibilities, though, we all have been blessed with gifts. We all share in the Spirit’s work. And we all work to uphold the church.
Isn’t that the goal of being the body of Christ? As disciples we know our gifts and claim them, and we use them in ways that serve our church, our neighbor and our world.
What gifts has God given you to share? How do you use them to build up God’s kingdom?
Prayer
Use me, Lord Jesus, to build up your kingdom and share your love. Amen.