November 24, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Numbers and 1 Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Corinthians 12 (NIV)
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.……Continue Reading
What a mess Paul is dealing with. The church in Corinth were evaluating themselves by what spiritual gift they had. And to another extreme what little gift they had. Puffed up Christians. 🤮. What a great analogy Paul uses. As the human body needs All parts. Funny. Just had by pass surgery. And I’m limping around because of a planters wart. Is the clean artery worth more than a foot? Who cares what gift others have. Let’s bring them together to build up and spread the gospel of Jesus How can you look vertically. If your spending all your time looking at others, Immaturity
Immaturity was supposed to be its own sentence
1 Corinthians 12
This made me think of people who have done amazing things like winning a marathon after having lost a limb, or someone who is blind or deaf that lives full and accomplished lives. We recognize the challange of that because when some part of us is missing things become more difficult to do. That is why I have always loved this picture of the church as a body. Every part is important! In order for us to bring glory to God at our best we need each part working. It can never be about my part is less significant than some one else’s so I will not do it because then we present a challenge for the whole body to reach it’s full potential!
1st Corinthians 12 The Corinthians church is dealing with people using their spiritual gifts as spiritual power so that is causing division. Spiritual gifts never should be use as self serving but as a means of serving others in the church. There are different kinds of gifts we receive from the Spirit of God and we are to use them to build the church of God. We all have one thing in common and that is our faith in Christ.
The bottom line to me in this chapter is that each member of an assembly should be valued because each has the Spirit of God in them.
Before Paul goes into the gifts of the Spirit, he first encourages the Corinthians and all his readers to consider what spirit is controlling them. The best evaluation is to consider what the voice inside us is saying about Jesus. We should also consider whether it is leading us to self promotion or God promotion. And it is a sure sign that you are off when you think your gift is more important than anyone else. As others noted, the human body is a great reflection of the gifts in the church. We need every part of our body to function and in very real terms, none is more important than the other….where would the brain be if the heart was not pumping blood to it or the feet weren’t carrying it around where it could perceive and learn? All the gifts need to be expressed and valued. What would any church look like if all its members were functioning in the Spirit and in their gifts? It is a beautiful picture when you see it on a small scale in an event or ministry, oh that all would grasp hold of the things of God and function as He directs! And this should lead to a church that is united in purpose as well as power and resources. all coming from God and leading to Him!
”There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:“
I Corinthians 12:4-7 NKJV
I am often thankful for our church body and the use of spiritual gifts faithfully in our midst. Pastor’s preaching, Mark’s heartfelt praying (Bea was a wonderful pray-er and Shirley) those prayers that draw you before the Lord, Bible study leaders, decorators, party planners – Kelly and Karen, Trail Life and AHG- Julie and Andrew, Youth Group, Sunday school, ushers, cleaners! I could go on! I am so thankful for our church! (And this is Thanksgiving Day that I am making this comment.)
When I think of the “lesser” gifts, all I can think of is Psalm 84. If I’m just a doorkeeper in the Lord’s house for one day, that’s better than anything else.
”For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.“
Psalms 84:10 NKJV