FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS: Devotion for Thursday May 5, 2016
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1 – 11 Memory verse: v 7
On Monday, we learnt that all we have are gifts from God and should be used for the benefit of others and to the glory of God. We shouldn’t pride ourselves on what was given to us. Among those gifts are spiritual talents (12:1) as Paul mentioned here. Paul states that the Spirit manifesting in us diverse gifts is meant to benefit all (12:7). All Christian gifts and graces come from the Holy Spirit. He bestows different measures of grace and means of influence upon different individuals, but always for the wisest reasons: for God to be glorified at the manifestation of the gifts. Paul admonished us to use them well (Rom. 12:6 – 8). Anything that is short of this is not of God.
What are the spiritual and physical gifts God has bestowed on you? How do you use them? A young priest told me how a lady came to their church for prayers. He called on one of the senior priests to join him in praying for the young lady. The senior priest asked if the lady is a member of the Church which he answered on the negative but wishes to start attending their church. The senior priest said he will not join because the lady is a prayer collector and not a member of their church. The young priest prayed for her and she left. She is presently a member of that church. If the young priest had told the lady what transpired, will that lady ever want to hear the priest or receive his prayers in that church? We should not discriminate with our spiritual gifts. Freely we received; freely we should give in whatever we have, be it spiritual or physical.
Food for Thought: How many people are benefiting from the gifts of God upon you?
Prayer: May I use my gifts, O Lord, for the benefit of all without discrimination in Jesus name.
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