By Rev Steve Nickodemus

God’s Gifts for All

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

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

My mother loved saying the proverb, “Variety is the spice of life!” Certainly a wide variety of different personalities really spices up a party!

When God gave spiritual gifts to believers, He gave them in a wide variety. Even as each Christian is different, so are the gifts that God gives. That is definitely interesting, and often challenging!

However, what our Lord calls each of us to remember is that all of these different gifts, of the Spirit, are given “for the common good.” I am not here to insist on my way as the only way, nor even as the best way, but God uses each of us for the good of the whole body of Christ.

He uses those who speak, and those who serve. He uses those who teach, and those who lead.  He uses those who speak truth, and those who show mercy. He uses those who have great generosity, and those who have great faith.

He uses all these gifts, and many more, that all might be saved through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, that all might grow up to be mature disciples following Jesus, and that all might love one another as Jesus has loved us.

What an amazing variety of gifts God has given in His church! He uses all of them for good, that we might all praise God together now and for eternity!

Holy Spirit, thank you for the gifts you have given me.  Give me a grateful heart that I might use those gifts for the common good, that many might be saved and built up in the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado