APRIL 17, 2015
We’re A
Community
[The Lord] gave some . . . for the equipping of
the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. —Ephesians 4:11-12
Read:
1
Corinthians 12:1-1
A pastor’s wife was
diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. That put the family in a difficult,
stressful situation. The pastor wondered how he was going to be able to take
good care of her while he still had responsibilities for his church family. But
he needn’t have worried because church members stepped up and volunteered to
assist him with meals and some of her care.
The apostle Paul wrote
to the Corinthian church about the purpose for which the Lord gave them their
spiritual gifts. Before he listed the diversity of gifts in 1 Corinthians
12:8-10, he reminded them that “a spiritual gift is given to each of us so we
can help each other” (v.7nlt). God does not give
His spiritual gifts for our own selfish use but to serve others, and in so
doing, we serve Him.
We are all given
different gifts to be used at different times and in different ways. But they
are all to be used in love for the “edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph.
4:12). Wherever God has placed us, we can use what He has gifted us to do as we
see the need, remembering that we are all part of the church—the body of Christ
(1 Cor. 12:13-14).
Thank You, Father, for
the wonderful gifts You have given Your church. Help me to understand how You
have gifted me to encourage other believers, and to spread the message of Your
love to the world.
Use your gifts to
exercise care for others.
INSIGHT:
Spiritual gifts are discussed in 1 Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians, and 1 Peter.
In 1 Corinthians 12–14, Paul emphasizes how these gifts relate to one another
within the body of Christ, the church. In Romans 12:3-8, he gives a shorter
list, but also emphasizes the exercising of those gifts. In Ephesians 4:11-13,
he describes gifted leaders God has given to the church for its development in
life and service. In 1 Peter 4, the apostle Peter says that the purpose of all
gifts is that “God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (v. 11).
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012