Thursday, July 3, 2008

Daily - 7/3/08

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Now in regard to spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware.

2 You know how, when you were pagans, you were constantly attracted and led away to mute idols.

3 Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, "Jesus be accursed." And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;

5 there are different forms of service but the same Lord;

6 there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.

7 To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.

8 To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

9 to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit;

10 to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues.

11 But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

At a bible study this week we discussed 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (one body, many parts). This is the passage immediately before, where Paul discusses spiritual gifts. Note v3 – no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit impacts each of us in different ways. Some of these callings may be more visible than others. Not everyone is called to mighty deeds, or prophecy, or wisdom, or teaching. Yet we all have a role, and in my opinion the roles all have equal importance.

As we begin to bear the fruits of the Spirit, we need to remember v11 – the one and the same Spirit produces all of these gifts, distributing to each person as HE wishes (ie, not as WE wish). The gifts come from the Holy Spirit. They aren’t us, they are God working through us. We need to recognize that fact and be thankful that we are given the gifts, rather than prideful that we have somehow "earned" them.