I Corinthians 12:7 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:” (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 12-14
Devotion by Merry Peterson (Canada)
Did you know you are a gift to everyone? We are all given certain gifts for the common good of all believers. God by His Spirit enables us to do different things but it is for a purpose – to benefit those whom we are in Christian fellowship with. As Paul was writing to the church body in Corinth he was letting them know that they all had various spiritual gifts. They were the emerging church at the time, still getting established in the ideas and practices of the Christian faith. Paul was reminding them of their individual gifts and that those gifts were to be used for the common good, edifying their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Do you have a certain gift that God has given you? I have a friend who has a God given gift of artistic ability. She blesses and encourages others with her drawings of Bible scriptures surrounded by scenes from nature. I find encouragement each time I see one of her illustrations. Sure, I can draw a stick figure – but I can’t meticulously draw the intricate details of a flower or butterfly that inspires the soul like she can – that is her God-given gift.
Each one of us has a different gift and we are to use it to benefit our brothers and sisters in Christ. Some people are empowered with prayer abilities, others give good Godly advice, others are good at teaching. Some have the gift of evangelism or hospitality, and some are just plain the most helpful people you know. These are all gifts that are given to us by God’s Spirit and they are all different. My abilities are different than my friend’s abilities. God doesn’t skip any one of us in the giving of these gifts – he wants us to use our specific gift for the benefit of everyone. No one can say that one gift is better than another because all of these gifts were meant to be used together to make a complete picture for how a body of believers should function together building each other up. Just imagine if your Christian fellowship group didn’t have anyone with a musical gift – the worship service might sound terrible! We need each person to exercise their spiritual gift so that we all can be enriched and God can be glorified.
For Reflection:
- What gifts has God given you to help enrich the lives of those you are in fellowship with?
- How have you been enriched by the gifts of others recently?
- Have you thanked God for your gifts and the gifts of others?
Merry Peterson pastors the Freedom In Christ Church in Welland, Ontario, Canada. She has enjoyed being in pastoral ministry for many years and has worked on the side in education in both public and private sectors in various capacities.
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