When Paul wrote to the church he had founded in Corinth, he was addressing a community that was experiencing conflict. Some people were claiming a special kind of status because of their particular spiritual gifts. The same thing still happens today in our communities when we compare our spiritual or other abilities, deciding that those around us are more or less “spirit-filled” or worthy than we are.
Paul’s words to the Corinthian people provide us with a course correction. Paul explains: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (12:7). All of us are given gifts through the Spirit and each gift matters. Each is a gift from God, for a purpose. Many gifts don’t need a university degree or deep theological understanding, just people willing to share their gifts and faithful hearts.
Say these words aloud: “I am activated by the Holy Spirit. I am gifted by the Holy Spirit.” How does it feel in your body to hear that?”
This message is excerpted from the Bible study “The gift of the Spirit: A divine wild goose chase” by Sara Olson-Smith in the September/October 2021 Gather magazine.
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