|
Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity
|
|
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12: 4 - 11 ESV)
|
|
The body is one and has many members
St Paul wrote to the Corinthian church so they would not be ignorant of the gifts of the Spirit. It was God’s plan for His people to live and work in unity with one purpose and have an overwhelming love for one another. These spiritual gifts were given to each member of the church body, and they were distributed according to God’s plan. Spiritual gifts were not just natural abilities as some preachers today seem to think. God’s gifts were above and beyond the natural abilities we all have.
Many of today’s Christians covert the gift of speaking in tongues. Yet to Paul this was near the bottom of the list for the obvious reasons that he writes (1Cor 14: 9). He later encourages Christians to seek after better gifts that will encourage and edify (1Cor 14: 39 - 40).
There are two ways, I believe, God’s spiritual gifts can help believers in their walk with the Lord and their witness to the world. Firstly, spiritual gifts can provide what is missing in the Christian life and ministry. Before the day of Pentecost we read that the disciples of Jesus were timid and fearful of being arrested and crucified. When God poured out the Holy Spirit they became bold and fearless. Secondly, spiritual gifts can complement the natural abilities we already have, giving us greater effectiveness in our Christian walk and witness. Whatever the basis of receiving spiritual gifts is we know that God has selected them for us. Even so we can seek after better gifts, so we can be all that God wants us to be and more.
God’s spiritual gifts, as well as our natural abilities, are given with one main purpose, that is, to unify the many different members of the church into one single entity – an entity that can work together and live together in total unity. This is what God desires, not the bickering, backbiting, criticising and disunity we often see today in our churches. Of course that does not mean we must overlook apostasy and bad behaviour. Everything we do should be for the building up of the church and the glory of God.
|
|
PeterF
|
|
Total Views: 772
|
All submitted comments will be read, but may only be displayed at my discretion. Please keep
comments brief. Large comments, that are displayed, will be shortened to around
100 words. Your email address will not be displayed, only the senders' name will be shown.
|
|
|
MORE INSIGHTS
Read Other Reflections on the Bible
1 Cor 13: 8 - 13
Chapter 13 is the well known Scripture reading often read at wedding ceremonies. It is very meaningful in the new relationship between husband and wife. However, for the Christian love, true love, is the basis for eternal existence together now . . .
1 Cor 15: 50 - 57
At the end of time when Jesus returns we who are still here will be changed. Our new bodies will last forever and not grow old and die. Those who have died will be raised to life again with new bodies. This only applies to Christians whose names . . .
Mark 12: 1 - 12
We learn in the Bible that many of the Scribes and Pharisees hated Jesus because He didn't mince words exposing their hipocricy and evil. The message of this passage was directed at them but Jesus also spoke of His death and resurrection to His . . .
1 Cor 9: 9 - 14
Most of us have heard about the "money preachers". Watch late night television in the wee hours before dawn and you find any number of televangelists spruiking their "name-it-and-claim-it" gospel. They may agree with the verses shown above about . . .
1 Cor 2:12-14
In Paul's letter to the Corinthian church we read how the Holy Spirit given to Christians reveals God's truths and wisdom. These were decreed by God even before the creation of the world.
The truth about salvation, about His plan for a coming . . .
Joel 2: 28 - 32
The passage above is a favourite among prophecy teachers. There are two schools of thought on the interpretation of the text. The popular view is that it applies to all Christians in the days prior to Christ’s return. Some disagree and claim it . . .
Revelation 1: 10 – 11
These letters to the seven churches, in chapters 1 to 3, are written in a different style to the rest of the prophetic text of Revelation. We are not told why these particular towns were selected but perhaps the apostle John who wrote down the . . .
Hebrews 10: 26 - 39
Many Christians believe that once saved you are always saved. But the Bible tells us otherwise as we read here in chapter 10. What they fail to realise is this: God gave us a free will to choose our own destiny. God’s long-term plan was to create . . .
Luke 17: 23 - 36
Firstly, although we understand God to be a God of love, wanting all people to be saved, why did He bring destruction on those living at the time of Noah and Lot? How can that be love? Universalists think because God is Love He will relent . . .
1 Corinthians 12: 4 - 11
St Paul wrote to the Corinthian church so they would not be ignorant of the gifts of the Spirit. It was God’s plan for His people to live and work in unity with one purpose and have an overwhelming love for one another. These spiritual gifts were . . .
|
|
