The Giver of Gifts
Since you are so eager to have spiritual gifts, ask God for those that will be of real help to the whole church. 1 Corinthians 14:12
Advertisement
In this passage from 1 Corinthians, Paul teaches on the marvelous variety of spiritual gifts: how God has uniquely designed each of us and decided which gifts we will have, how the Holy Spirit distributes these gifts, and how different and yet very important each spiritual gift is. Whether it is the gift of teaching, leading, faith, miracles, or helping others, he reminds us that God’s Spirit is the source behind every gift. However, it’s easy, isn’t it, to look around at those who seem so gifted in teaching, leading, singing, running a company, or excelling in hospitality and wonder where we were when the gifts were handed out. But in this verse God encourages us to ask him to give us the spiritual gifts that will be of most help to the body of Christ. With his grace, we can receive, cultivate, and use our spiritual gifts. And when there is fruitfulness or success, we can boast not in our own abilities or talents but in God, who created and distributed all of the gifts for his purposes. To God be the glory!
Prayers:
LORD, I ask you to give me the spiritual gifts that you know will be of real help to the whole church and will fulfill your purpose and destiny for my life. Thank you for creating me with particular interests and talents. Help me to see opportunities to use them to serve others and to glorify you.
Quotes:
THESE ARE GIFTS FROM GOD ARRANGED BY INFINITE WISDOM, NOTES THAT MAKE UP THE SCORES OF CREATION’S LOFTIEST SYMPHONY, THREADS THAT COMPOSE THE MASTER TAPESTRY OF THE UNIVERSE.
A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)
The One Year Bible Readings for today are: Job 1:1–3:26; 1 Corinthians 14:1-17; Psalm 37:12-29 and Proverbs 21:25-26.
