Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

 

Riya Varughese
St. Andrews MTC, NY


Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7

 There was once a boy who always wanted a pair of skates. One year for Christmas, his dad bought him the pair of skates that he wanted. The boy did not want to ruin his skates or share it with the other kids and so he never took the skates out of his room; he only skated around his bed. Eventually he grew out of the skates but never truly got a chance to enjoy them to its full extent.
 This boy’s predicament is like that of the servant in Mathew 25:14-30 who was given one bag of gold. He placed it in a hole that he had dug so that it would remain there till his master’s return. When the master returned, he was the only one who had not made a profit and thus lost whatever was given to him to begin with.
 As it states in today’s passage, each of us are given the gift(s) of the Holy Spirt as the Spirit deems fit according to each of our abilities just as the master gave the servant a bag of gold based on his abilities. We may not receive all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but it is up to us to use the gifts that were given to us for the common good of everyone. We are not to hide our gifts like the boy hid his new skates. What use will there be then? Why should we be given a gift if we are never to use it? Indeed, just as in the parable, it would be more useful for our gift to be given to someone who already has many gifts and uses it for the benefit of others and to glorify God.
 Now there is a difference between using the gift for ourselves and using the gift for the common good. Keeping the gifts of the Holy Spirit to ourselves would be just the same as not using it at all. Think of it like this: if a carpenter only makes furniture for himself and a farmer only grows crops to feed himself then the carpenter would go hungry and the farmer would have no furniture. However, when they share their skills, everyone benefits. In the same way, when we use the gifts of the Holy Spirit and not keep it to ourselves, many will benefit. Through our gifts, God’s name will be glorified.

PRAYER

Lord we pray for You to guide us with Your Holy Spirit to recognize our gifts so that we may use them for the common good of others and glorify Your name. Amen.


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“The Holy Spirit can be with you always and guide you back to Him, but in order to enjoy the benefits of this holy gift, you must truly receive it, and then you must use it in your life. How sad it would be to be given such a precious gift and then set it aside and never use it.” –  Margaret D. Nadauld

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