1 Corinthians 12 talks a lot about different kinds of gifts, and how they’re all distributed. First we have to identify what some of them are. Verses 4-11 say: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 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. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
There are many different gifts, but what’s most important is that the source is One and the same. God distributes them. He gives us each something different, however the gifts are intended to flow together to honor God and edify the church. Btw, edify in this sense means to improve or instruct spiritually.
In verses 12-27, this idea of different gifts being designed to flow together again. This time using the analogy of the human body. These verses say “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.”
It’s not all about any one part, or person.
“15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”
Just because you don’t feel like you’re a grand, obviously important part of the body doesn’t mean that you aren’t invaluable.
” 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
Coming into 2018 I’m sure we all had a lot of plans and goals. Ideas of what we wanted to achieve and attain, but here’s the first important thing to recognize…in order to accomplish anything this year: you need a strategy. A game plan. That starts with first getting before God, and asking Him to align you with His will for your life. Not presenting Him with your plans, but presenting Him with you. Just saying: God I’m here, I’m open, and I’m available to You. You know the desires of my heart, but there’s nothing that I desire more than honoring You and being in Your will for my life.
Or have we forgotten that Psalm 127:1 says: Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Stop trying to run ahead of God with your plans.
The second most important thing to recognize this year is, in order to accomplish anything is you need to find your function. Let this be your year to function and flourish. We read how each part of the body has a function, what is yours? If you’re the eyes, stop trying to be ears. Ask God to reveal to you what your function is, and how to do it the best you can. If He’s already revealed it to you, stop trying carry out somebody elses. All that leads to is malfunction (failing to work correctly, because it’s not being used as it was designed to be).
Don’t be envious of other peoples gifts, or the fruits of their labor from flourishing in their function. First of all, God did not make a mistake in giving us all different gifts. We can’t all be Bishop T.D Jakes, Tasha Cobb Lenoards, Michael Jordan or Jackson. Second, a lot of time we get caught up envying the gift…and disregarding their faithfulness to their process, that allowed them to bear fruit.
Romans 12:6-8 says: Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed;7 if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching;8 or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, Or without ulterior motives.with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.
We’re only 7 days in, don’t let this be another year that starts off with “This is my year” and ends with “maybe next year.” This is not the “I don’t know, I’m still trying to figure it out year.” This is the year designed for you to flourish, to grow, for exceedingly and abundantly. You can’t get that, if you don’t get in line with God’s will and work your function. So this time, this morning, get in line with God’s
will and work your function.
Every other week I share the devotional that I’ve written on WBRU during their Sunday Morning Gospel program. Tune in to listen on their new station 101.1FM.
Stylishly Yours,
Theresa Seyi
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