Corona Devo 1184

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. (2) You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. (3) So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.  

(4) There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. (5) There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. (6) God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.  

(7) A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.  ~I Corinthians 12:1-7

Ever been jealous about someone else's spiritual talent?  More specifically, how about someone's special ability that the Spirit gives us?  It's natural in life to see what other's have, and want it.  And it's no different on the spiritual-side of things.  But God says that it should be.  He gives us all different gifts and talents (for His glory), but not so that we will compete against each other, or be jealous of one another...but instead, so that we will compliment each other and serve side-by-side in God's Kingdom, each utilizing the special abilities He has given us.

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One of my best friends...boy, can she pray. Her prayers are beautiful conversations with God, and she somehow incorporates the most intimate asks, the unmentioned angles, and the desires and aches of the hearts of those she prays for.  It's beautiful and powerful.  She will say that it's not her, but the Holy Spirit is the source of them.  I wish I had that gift.

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To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.  ~I Corinthians 12:8

Some people are just wise.  They are sometimes not even old, just sage in their suggestions and temperament and they have the ability to give wise advice.  I wish I had that gift.

Ever known someone with special knowledge?  Another of my best friends has a son that knows plants like no one else I know.  He's young, but has a vocabulary and understanding of plants that surpasses most adults, and even most green-thumbed adults!  If you can plant it--he's got special knowledge about it.   I wish I had that gift.

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 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. (10) He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. (11) It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.   ~I Corinthians 12:9-11  

I have another good friend going through a hard time.  Very hard.  Like...the doctors don't really know what things will be like on the other side of this hard time.  But her faith does not waiver. Her commitment to Christ and her faith in His promises and His provision are stable and strong, even in this stage of weakness that she is living through.  The Lord has given her a spirit of great faith.  I wish I had that gift.

A couple weeks ago, I was with someone close to me, and on a random car ride, her tone turned serious, and she spoke more authoritatively than I have heard her before, and she proceeded to tell me about someone that I should share the hope of Jesus with.  She was specific in how I should do it ("Talk very gently, and in easy-language, as if speaking to a child"), and she was specific also in fervor ("They won't listen to anyone else but you about this.  You have to tell them how much God loves them.).  If I am being honest, it was a little weird, but I believed her.  God gives some people the ability to prophesy.  I wish I had that gift. 

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There are lots of people in this world following Jesus, and there are lots of gifts that He has given each one of us separately, on-purpose, and with distinction.  We should stop desiring the gifts that others have been given, and we should become aware of the part that we play.  It's integral!  It's specific!  And it is ours.  

God knows what he is doing.  Let's trust our assignment today, and encourage others in theirs.    

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. (13) Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.  

(14) Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. (15) If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. (16) And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?  

(18) But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. (19) How strange a body would be if it had only one part! (20) Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. (21) The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

(22) In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. (23) And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, (24) while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. 

So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. (25) This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. (26) If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.  ~I Corinthians 12:12-26

There are lots of people in this world following Jesus, and there are lots of gifts that He has given each one of us separately, on-purpose, and with distinction.  We should stop desiring the gifts that others have been given, and we should become aware of the part that we play.  It's integral!  It's specific!  And it is ours.  

God knows what He is doing.  Let's trust our assignment today, and encourage others in theirs.  

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com