Lenten Devotional March 30, 2022

Scripture

I Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  8 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 discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Devotional

The Rev. Carolyn Cranston ’99, Director of Alumnae/i and Church Relations

What an amazing gift God has given us in the Holy Spirt. It is only through the Spirit of God that we are able to know and love Jesus as our Lord and Savior. As followers of Jesus, we receive an invitation to journey with him to the cross. We experience the dark days of Jesus’ crucifixion, death, resurrection, and final victory as he ascends to heaven with God.

Scripture tells us that there are varieties of spiritual gifts given to God’s children. There are also many ways to serve and work to use those gifts. All of these things come from the same Spirit, for in all things it is the same God at work. It is not up to us to decide which gift we want to receive and which gift we have no interest in using.

The Holy Spirit determines how to distribute the spiritual gifts. The Spirit does not distribute spiritual gifts to everyone equally, but as the Spirit of God so chooses. The beauty of this is that we have no reason for pride or envy. The gifts we possess are just that—gifts. They are not of our own making. We do not claim, nor should we desire, what the Spirit has not given us.

The Holy Spirit has bestowed spiritual gifts upon every one of God’s children to use for the common good of all in building up the Kingdom of God. It is most important for all of God’s children to discern which spiritual gifts they possess. Spiritual gifts should never lay idle. If you have not identified your own gifts, seek clarity through a spiritual gifts inventory, or perhaps through conversations at your church.

Your gifts will make a unique difference, because only you possess them.

Prayer

Holy and gracious God, thank you for the Spirit who generates in us the love of Jesus Christ. We are grateful that, through the Holy Spirit, every person receives spiritual gifts. Help us to use our gifts for the benefit of others. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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