Focus

Be mindful of your breathing. Take in a large breath, hold it for a few seconds, and release it along with any negative thoughts and feelings you may be holding.

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Read

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NRSV)

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 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. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

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Reflect

Gifts are funny things. So many people long to have obvious gifts—a beautiful singing voice, fingers that tickle the piano, writing skills that publishers seek….

Sometimes it is hard to see how our individual gifts compliment the gifts of others to glorify God, especially when we hold more value over someone’s obvious gifts than those gifts that are not as public. When we limit ourselves to the obvious gifts of the Spirit like those listed in today’s text, I cannot help but wonder if we are inadvertently limiting God.

The thing is, though, if everyone held the same obvious gifts, the world would be a pretty boring place and we would never really accomplish much. The gifts we hold are meant to be different from one another; they are meant to create diversity in a holy community of faith. Our gifts from the Spirit, whether a beautiful singing voice, the ability to cook delicious food, do home repairs, or discern God’s will, are meant to benefit the entire community, thus bringing glory to God.

Take heart as the same God, the same Lord, the same Spirit, who gifted those in today’s text is the same God, the same Lord, and the same Spirit who gifts you.

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Pray

God, giver of all good gifts, we praise you for your love in the sharing of your Spirit. Be with us today, helping us to recognize our own gifts and the gifts in others so that we may work together to bring glory to you now and forever. Amen.

Go with God.