GIFTS FOR THE COMMON GOOD

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Everyone likes gifts. Am I right?

I mean, I have yet to meet someone who hasn’t liked it. We love to receive things because it makes us feel loved and valued by someone.

Well, keeping in that train of thought, I want you to think about the Lord, the Master Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). No one loves and values more than your God and He shows this in many ways, one of them being through the gifts that He gives, both physical and spiritual. He gifts everyone, no one is left out.

But here’s the thing about most of the gifts the Lord gives.

He wants and expects us to share them with others.

This is counterintuitive to the way the world sees gifts. In that perspective, gifts are received and kept by the receiver for their own benefit. There isn’t any expectation to share.

As we continue to look at Paul’s words to the church in Corinth, we see him providing instruction in regard to handling gifts from the Lord granted through the Holy Spirit. Note that these gifts aren’t identical. Everyone doesn’t receive the same endowment from God.

Some are given a message of wisdom to share. Others are given knowledge or faith or the ability to heal. Still others are granted the power to perform miracles or declare prophecy or discern between spirits or either speak or interpret tongues.

The Holy Spirit distributes gifts as He determines and He grants everyone gifts to use, not for their own profit but rather for the common good. It’s a self sacrificing use of the gifts the Lord provides and it makes sense, right? For as Christians, we are to be Christ-like and to be Christ-like is to be willing to set your desires aside to meet the needs of others, just as Jesus did.

So what gifts has the Lord given you?

If you don’t know already, pray over this and watch the Lord reveal them to you. Then, submit yourself to His will, asking Him to guide you in the use of the gifts He has granted for the good of everyone. When you do, He will always lead you to do what He wants you to do, using what He has given to His glory and the benefit of others.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com