Today’s Reading:  1 Corinthians 12:27-31

“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in languages? Do all interpret?” 

 

1 Corinthians 12:29-30

Reflection

One of the wonders of creation is that every creation has a purpose. We may not know it, but every thing that God has made – from the majestic mountains to those creepy crawlies in your living room – serves a purpose in God’s creation order.

In the same way, every believer in the Body of Christ serves a purpose. Each one is called to serve in a way that may be very different from their brother or sister in Christ. While we may be called to exercise different gifts in different ministries of the Church, we all have the same goal: to glorify God and point people to Christ!

It is very easy for us to get distracted by the gifts others might have and to covet what God has given to them. But we must remember, as Paul points out in our reading, that not all are apostles, not all are teachers, not all have gifts of healing, not all are multilingual and can communicate in different ways. Not everyone has the same gift, and God designed His Church to be that way.

The gift God has given you is not for someone else. It is for you to use alongside other believers for God’s glory. In the same way, the gift God has given someone else is not for you to covet, but instead to encourage so that God may receive glory through that believer, too. We have different gifts given by God, but the same goal to glorify God.

 

THINK ABOUT IT:

What is/are the gift/gifts God has given to you to serve Him in the Church? Take some time to thank God for that gift.

What are some of the gifts you see in your fellow believers (think of one or two people specifically) and how can you encourage them in their gifts for God?

Prayer

Dear God, I thank You for the gift You have given me to serve You in Your Church. This gift reminds me that You have included me in Your plan of salvation, to lift You up and to point people to You. I am so grateful and honored that You would choose someone like me to be part of such a tremendous calling. I ask that You help me to use the gift You have given me for Your glory. Show me the way to glorify You and help me to encourage my brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ in using their gifts for Your glory. I pray these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN.

 

Thru the Bible in a year (credit: Biblestudytools.com): 1 Corinthians 12; 2 Kings 6:1-7:2; Jonah 1