Devotion • February 1
Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 12:1–11
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. 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. (NRSV)
Reflection
Why does Paul write to the Corinthians identifying the origin and intention of the God-given spiritual gifts? I don’t know. (I’m just trying out that phrase this year. I don’t like it. It doesn’t feel natural. Or smart.) I do not know why Paul felt the need to address the Christians in Corinth with this information.
However, in my limited research, I understand that the people of Corinth, after Paul’s first visit to them, may have begun to think of themselves as “super-Christians.” This epistle may have been addressing issues created by pride. The people of Corinth may have received a little information from Paul’s visit and possibly grew it into personal pride and self-aggrandizing in the early church. Which brings me back to this devotional. I use my little pieces of information to support my opinion. (It is amazing how, if I type the words of my opinion into the search bar of Google, it directs me to many articles supporting my opinion!)
The people of Corinth may have needed a redirect from their teacher — just as my faith and life need consistent listening and acceptance of information. Paul points out that even though people may have many and varied spiritual gifts, these gifts come from God. They are all meant (I think) to enhance and further the information that the people of God receive — if those people are listening.
I have great respect for a member of my family, who, when trying to understand the belief system of the younger generation, shared this truth with me: “Katy, the Bible teachers of my youth were mountain men who never went to college. All we had was the King James Version of the Bible. You have grown up listening to people who have much more information than I did. Where I was raised, no one questioned the ‘truth’ as these men brought it to us.”
This is very insightful. Perhaps I can use this epistle, and the words of my family member, to inform and remind me that each of these gifts, even the utterance of wisdom and knowledge, are given by the Spirit. All are “activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.”
Prayer
God of all knowledge and gifts, help me to receive the gifts which you may have bestowed and to use them for the common good of all people. Amen.
Written by Katy Sinclair, Associate Director of Music for Children and Youth
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email
YouTube
Podcasts
/fourthchurch
#fourthchurch
#fourthchurch
@fourthchicago