SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. [1 Corinthians 12:11]
Unknown to us, invisible to our eyes, the Spirit works in the church and the world, spreading out God’s gifts, working out God’s purposes, custom designing God’s church.
Nothing is by chance.
Who is in the church, how they are gifted, what they do, what they have to offer, etc. its all as the Spirit determined.
But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. [1 Corinthians 12:18]
Jesus spends the night praying about how to set up the first team of disciples.
God, by the Spirit, directs Jesus to pick the specific disciples that He picks.
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. [Luke 6:12-16]
What a motley crew, yet arranged by God, just as he wanted them to be.
Can we see the present community (‘church’) we belong to in a similar way.
A body of unique people, each one gifted in a particular way, each one there for a specific purpose, known only to God.
Even the Judas types, the ones that belong but do not believe, are there for a purpose.
The Spirit is working behind the scenes, leading each person to our team.
He gives to each one something that they can offer, for the common good.
This is what we normally call spiritual gifts. Without getting technical into what spiritual gifts are, it is enough to say that whatever we are and whatever we have has been entrusted to us by God’s design to fulfill a purpose on the body.
I am where I am for a reason… so are you.
I cannot tell you the specifics of why, but in general what you are and what you have is intended for the common good, to help the whole body fulfill its purpose.
After reading this passage, we are encouraged to consider carefully how God has shaped and positioned us, and to determine to devote all that we are and have to fulfilling His purpose.
According to Jesus, we will one day have to give an account of what we did with the gifts He assigned to us [Matthew 25:14-30].
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for each and every person that is a part of the team You assigned me to. Help each one of us to do our part!
I’m back in Haiti 🙂
I am part of a team – teachers, national workers, students and parents.
We are QCS.
Each of us need to do our part to make QCS the place that it is showing the love of God in the field of education. And not only showing that love, but also knowing that love. This is not only in the classroom but also out on the sports field , the dining area, wherever we are. To know and to show the love of God!
And we are a diverse group of servants from around the world doing His work in the classroom, in the kitchen. on the sports field, in the community, etc.
Different gifts.
Different people.
The people of God sharing the gifts of God.
All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
Ere into being I was brought,
Thine eye did see, and in Thy thought
My life in all its perfect plan
Was ordered ere my days began.
Thy thoughts, O God, how manifold,
More precious unto me than gold!
I muse on their infinity,
Awaking I am still with Thee.
The wicked Thou shalt surely slay,
From me let sinners turn away;
They speak against the Name divine,
I count God’s enemies as mine.
Search me, O God, my heart discern,
Try me, my inmost thought to learn;
And lead me, if in sin I stray,
To choose the everlasting way.