Thursday after Trinity X - Devotion in semi-Exile
Lection for Thursday Trinity X
2 Samuel 12:1-25 1 Corinthians 12:1-13
In Paul’s day, there was a problem in Corinth. They were arguing about which was the better gift, the more important gift of the Holy Spirit. Actually, it was all about the individual, showing off – who was better and more important. Their argument was not really about the gifts, and more importantly, it was not about the giver of the gifts. Instead, their discussion about these gifts was about the individuals themselves, it was all about prestige and who was greater and more important. It was a, “My dad’s bigger than your dad,” game they were playing.
As there were problems then, so it is also true today. I am sure that you have heard people discuss, or may even have you ever been asked about, the gifts of the Holy Spirit? There are some who will say that there are specific gifts of the Spirit all Christians should have. What is interesting is that usually, it will be said that all Christians must be able to speak in tongues – and if you cannot, you are not a true Christian. But what does our text say?
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed... Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. And our text goes on to list a few of the gifts of the Spirit, ending with these words. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. It is the Holy Spirit who is the focus, who gives out his gifts to each individual as He wills for a purpose – for the common good.
So, do you have the Holy Spirit? You are not sure?
OK, let me ask it this way. Were you baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit? If so, you have the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
Everybody who is a Christian, who has faith in Christ, must have the Holy Spirit, for it is He who works saving faith. As the Spirit works faith, He also gives gifts for service. And whatever your gift may be, that gift is to be used for the common good.
Do you remember the story Pentecost? The disciples were speaking in tongues, and the people were amazed because, as they said, “We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." (Acts 2:11) Each was hearing in their own language, the mighty works of God. What were those mighty works of God?
Peter’s Pentecost sermon follows, and in it we learn about the mighty works God. It is all about Jesus fulfilling the Old Testament, that He was God, that He had been crucified, died, and rose on the third day. The common good was for others to hear the message of salvation in Christ Jesus – the great love of God to purchase forgiveness, to do the work salvation for all mankind.
Many Christians love to brag, “Look how I speak in tongues. I speak in tongues, can’t you? If you cannot speak in tongues, you are not a true Christian!” Notice to whom they point, what they can do.
To be generous, they may indeed be able to speak in tongues. But when you listen to them speak about their gift, to whom are they directing your attention? To themselves? Or to God? It is easy to see that they are more focused upon getting the glory from others for their doing, than they are upon giving glory to the giver of the gift – God.
Interestingly, Paul spends a couple chapters talking about outwardly incredible gifts, but ultimately he points out that the greatest gift is faith, the gift to trust Christ Jesus for forgiveness and life. Furthermore, in our text, he points out that, to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Know that all believer are given is the Holy Spirit, and it is He who works in us the manifestation of His presence, the gift of faith. Along with faith, God’s gives to each of us talents, abilities, or varieties of service – all these gifts to be used for the common good.
Often people talk about the other gifts, usually the most impressive and outwardly visible gifts. Tongues is mentioned, but you rarely hear about the interpretation of tongues. Healing is another one often mentioned. I once had someone tell me, “If you prayed for someone, and they got better, you probably have the gift of healing.” Really? What does it mean then, if I prayed for someone to get better, and they died? What gift is that?
This would Paul had no faith? Paul lived his whole life with some sort of ailment, a thorn in the flesh that God would not remove from him, God would not heal him. And yet, he was God’s instrument to bring the Gospel to many places. Paul was a witness to countless people – his faith served the common good.
So, besides saving faith, what gift has the Holy Spirit given to you? Maybe you look at this list in our text and cannot precisely label what gift or gifts the Lord has entrusted to you. Know this, this is not a complete list of the gifts God gives by His Spirit. Be sure of this, He has given you certain skills and talents for the common good, He has equipped you to serve those around you. How?
Where you have opportunity, help those around you with the talents and abilities you do have.
How? Maybe you speak a word of comfort to someone hurting, pray for them and let them know you are doing it. If you are handy, help fix things for those who are not able to do the same. If you can cook, provide food for those who are in need, maybe for those who are sick, or those stricken with grief. Each of you is exactly who God made you to be, and given you to serve the common good. Use the gifts He has given you, your talents and abilities for the benefit of your neighbor – even if your unique gift is not in the list in our text.
You my dear friends are the beloved of God. He has called you by name and bestowed upon you His Spirit. You want proof? It is simple, you are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You take your comfort in the promise of the Word, not in your gifts, and not in your faith. Faith trusts the promise of God in His Word – Faith trusts Christ.
Maybe you cannot precisely state how many, or even which gifts God gave you. Jesus Christ Himself, the very Word of God, was given unto death to forgive you for those times you saw a need you could fulfill for the common good, but you turned and walked away.
The greatest gift is Jesus, who in faith entrusted Himself to the Father, “into Your hands I commit my Spirit.” Jesus went the way of the cross to give Himself up unto death for the common good – for the good of His church – for your good and mine. It was on the cross that He took upon Himself our sins, the disease which brought us death, and purchased the miracle healing of forgiveness for all mankind.
You have been called by the Gospel, and yet English was not even a tongue spoken when Christ first took upon Himself human flesh. In the proclamation of the Gospel, you have been given the Holy Spirit who has bestowed and strengthened faith within you to trust not in yourself, but in the work of Christ.
2 Samuel 12:1-25 1 Corinthians 12:1-13
In Paul’s day, there was a problem in Corinth. They were arguing about which was the better gift, the more important gift of the Holy Spirit. Actually, it was all about the individual, showing off – who was better and more important. Their argument was not really about the gifts, and more importantly, it was not about the giver of the gifts. Instead, their discussion about these gifts was about the individuals themselves, it was all about prestige and who was greater and more important. It was a, “My dad’s bigger than your dad,” game they were playing.
As there were problems then, so it is also true today. I am sure that you have heard people discuss, or may even have you ever been asked about, the gifts of the Holy Spirit? There are some who will say that there are specific gifts of the Spirit all Christians should have. What is interesting is that usually, it will be said that all Christians must be able to speak in tongues – and if you cannot, you are not a true Christian. But what does our text say?
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed... Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. And our text goes on to list a few of the gifts of the Spirit, ending with these words. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. It is the Holy Spirit who is the focus, who gives out his gifts to each individual as He wills for a purpose – for the common good.
So, do you have the Holy Spirit? You are not sure?
OK, let me ask it this way. Were you baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit? If so, you have the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
Everybody who is a Christian, who has faith in Christ, must have the Holy Spirit, for it is He who works saving faith. As the Spirit works faith, He also gives gifts for service. And whatever your gift may be, that gift is to be used for the common good.
Do you remember the story Pentecost? The disciples were speaking in tongues, and the people were amazed because, as they said, “We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." (Acts 2:11) Each was hearing in their own language, the mighty works of God. What were those mighty works of God?
Peter’s Pentecost sermon follows, and in it we learn about the mighty works God. It is all about Jesus fulfilling the Old Testament, that He was God, that He had been crucified, died, and rose on the third day. The common good was for others to hear the message of salvation in Christ Jesus – the great love of God to purchase forgiveness, to do the work salvation for all mankind.
Many Christians love to brag, “Look how I speak in tongues. I speak in tongues, can’t you? If you cannot speak in tongues, you are not a true Christian!” Notice to whom they point, what they can do.
To be generous, they may indeed be able to speak in tongues. But when you listen to them speak about their gift, to whom are they directing your attention? To themselves? Or to God? It is easy to see that they are more focused upon getting the glory from others for their doing, than they are upon giving glory to the giver of the gift – God.
Interestingly, Paul spends a couple chapters talking about outwardly incredible gifts, but ultimately he points out that the greatest gift is faith, the gift to trust Christ Jesus for forgiveness and life. Furthermore, in our text, he points out that, to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Know that all believer are given is the Holy Spirit, and it is He who works in us the manifestation of His presence, the gift of faith. Along with faith, God’s gives to each of us talents, abilities, or varieties of service – all these gifts to be used for the common good.
Often people talk about the other gifts, usually the most impressive and outwardly visible gifts. Tongues is mentioned, but you rarely hear about the interpretation of tongues. Healing is another one often mentioned. I once had someone tell me, “If you prayed for someone, and they got better, you probably have the gift of healing.” Really? What does it mean then, if I prayed for someone to get better, and they died? What gift is that?
This would Paul had no faith? Paul lived his whole life with some sort of ailment, a thorn in the flesh that God would not remove from him, God would not heal him. And yet, he was God’s instrument to bring the Gospel to many places. Paul was a witness to countless people – his faith served the common good.
So, besides saving faith, what gift has the Holy Spirit given to you? Maybe you look at this list in our text and cannot precisely label what gift or gifts the Lord has entrusted to you. Know this, this is not a complete list of the gifts God gives by His Spirit. Be sure of this, He has given you certain skills and talents for the common good, He has equipped you to serve those around you. How?
Where you have opportunity, help those around you with the talents and abilities you do have.
How? Maybe you speak a word of comfort to someone hurting, pray for them and let them know you are doing it. If you are handy, help fix things for those who are not able to do the same. If you can cook, provide food for those who are in need, maybe for those who are sick, or those stricken with grief. Each of you is exactly who God made you to be, and given you to serve the common good. Use the gifts He has given you, your talents and abilities for the benefit of your neighbor – even if your unique gift is not in the list in our text.
You my dear friends are the beloved of God. He has called you by name and bestowed upon you His Spirit. You want proof? It is simple, you are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You take your comfort in the promise of the Word, not in your gifts, and not in your faith. Faith trusts the promise of God in His Word – Faith trusts Christ.
Maybe you cannot precisely state how many, or even which gifts God gave you. Jesus Christ Himself, the very Word of God, was given unto death to forgive you for those times you saw a need you could fulfill for the common good, but you turned and walked away.
The greatest gift is Jesus, who in faith entrusted Himself to the Father, “into Your hands I commit my Spirit.” Jesus went the way of the cross to give Himself up unto death for the common good – for the good of His church – for your good and mine. It was on the cross that He took upon Himself our sins, the disease which brought us death, and purchased the miracle healing of forgiveness for all mankind.
You have been called by the Gospel, and yet English was not even a tongue spoken when Christ first took upon Himself human flesh. In the proclamation of the Gospel, you have been given the Holy Spirit who has bestowed and strengthened faith within you to trust not in yourself, but in the work of Christ.
Here is a miracle of
speaking in tongues – in your own language, in your native tongue, hear the
mighty deeds of God, done for you in Christ Jesus. He gave His life that you
might have life, and have it to the full, now and forevermore. Hear and
believe. That is the gift of the Spirit for the common good, for the salvation
of all who believe – for your good – for your salvation. In the name of Jesus! Amen.
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