Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Set – Job 40; 1 Corinthians 12
Go! – Job 40-41; 1 Corinthians 12
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
1 Now let me turn to some issues about spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters. There’s much you need to learn.
2 Remember the way you used to live when you were pagans apart from God? You were engrossed—enchanted with voiceless idols, led astray by mere images carved by human hands. 3 With that in mind, I want you to understand that no one saying “Jesus is cursed” is operating under God’s Spirit, and no one confessing “Jesus is Lord” can do so without the Holy Spirit’s inspiration.
4 Now there are many kinds of grace gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. 5 There are many different ways to serve, but they’re all directed by the same Lord. 6 There are many amazing working gifts in the church, but it is the same God who energizes them all in all who have the gifts.7 Each believer has received a gift that manifests the Spirit’s power and presence. That gift is given for the good of the whole community. 8 The Spirit gives one person a word of wisdom, but to the next person the same Spirit gives a word of knowledge. 9 Another will receive the gift of faith by the same Spirit, and still another gifts of healing—all from the one Spirit. 10 One person is enabled by the Spirit to perform miracles, another to prophesy, while another is enabled to distinguish those prophetic spirits. The next one speaks in various kinds of unknown languages, while another is able to interpret those languages. 11 One Spirit works all these things in each of them individually as He sees fit.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
So many people confuse the gifts I give you to carry out the tasks I have for you. Why would I give everyone the same gift? What purpose would that serve in the world? I have given a multitude of gifts to a multitude of people. I find you also envy the gifts I give to some and not to others. You wonder why you do not have particular gifts. You wonder why I give some gifts to one person and not to others or to you.
Don’t you think I know what I’m doing when I distribute My gifts among you? I have a purpose and a plan for each person and I give you the gifts and talents you need to carry out that plan. I don’t expect you to complete anyone else’s task so you don’t need the gifts meant for someone else. Does that make sense to you? If not, let Me explain it another way.
When your house was built an entire team of builders with different skills came together to make it happen. First, an architect drew the plans for the building. An engineer used his skills to mark the property and give heavy equipment operators the exact spots to dig the space for the house, pour the concrete footings, and lay in the foundation upon which others would build. Plumbers and electricians made sure pipes and conduit went into the foundation at just the right places as it was poured so everything below ground was ready.
Framers quickly erected the outer structure of the house, the skeleton on which everything else rests. Roofers covered the top and put on the shingles to keep out the rain and the framers put the sheeting on the outside. Masons came into the picture next worked on the outside putting up the bring or stone to make it begin to look like a house as plumbers connected pipes to all the places water would run throughout the house. Electricians ran wire and cables throughout the house and insulation went into the interior walls. Heat and air experts put in the vents throughout the house.
Now the sheetrock crew comes in. The interior walls go in and these experts begin to finish the walls by sealing and sanding all the seams and corners. Finish carpenters start all the door frames, cabinets, molding, and staircases. Painters cover all the walls and ceilings. Carpet layers and experts with flooring lay tile or wood in appropriate areas. Electricians finish their work connecting all the switches and plugs, putting in the stove, oven, any other appliances and light fixtures. Plumbers install sinks, showers, and tubs.
Finally the general contractor finishes his inspections and turns the house over to the realtor to sell the house to you. Dozens of people with the right skills put your house together to make it liveable for you. Each had different skills. Not one of them could have made your house like it is. None of them are skilled in all the areas needed to build your house. It took the whole team with all of their separate gifts to make the home you inhabit.
So it is with the work I have for you. You don’t know the final plan I have for the world I created. You get glimpses by the words I left with you, but you only see the part of the plan I have for you just as the electrician only sees the pages of the blueprint he needs to build your house. He doesn’t get the whole set. He doesn’t need the whole set. Neither do you need to see the whole picture of what I plan for the work I have in store for My people. Just be content with the gifts I’ve given you and understand that your part is necessary. Then do your tasks well. Use the gifts I’ve given you, knowing that the tasks I’ve given you are an essential part of My plan.
Just like every talent that went into the building of your house is important, so the gifts I give to every person are important in the execution of the plans I have for this world and the next. Work diligently for Me so that at the end of time, I can say to you, “Enter in, good and faithful servant.”
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