God Desires to Empower You for the Common Good!
January 07, 2022
God Desires to Empower You for the Common Good!
By Brooke Holt
“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.” - 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
God longs to speak into your life today. If you are in Christ—meaning that you have put your trust in the salvific work of Jesus Christ on your behalf—then you have the Spirt of God living within you. You are the dwelling place for God. Ponder that divine miracle as well as the divine calling on your life.
As God’s dwelling place, you are empowered by his Holy Spirit to do his work in this world. Paul wrote about the gifts, services, and activities that come from the Spirit. Notice that while there are many varieties in the work, there is only one God who empowers his people to do the work. Every convert in the Corinthian church was given the Holy Spirit and was called to exercise his or her gifts, services, and activities. You also have been given the Holy Spirit and are empowered for God’s holy purposes in this world. There are absolutely no exceptions. God dwells within you, and that same God desires to empower you with spiritual gifts.
Soak in that holy truth. You have been called, chosen, and empowered to build the kingdom of God in this world. Your calling is just as important as your priest’s calling, the bishop’s calling, and even that calling that was upon Billy Graham. Here is the catch: Your gifting and your work are not for your glory but for the common good of God’s people.
As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, they were still a bit self-consumed and self-seeking. Paul reminded them that the gifts came from God, and the gifts were to be used for God’s glory and the blessing of God’s people. This is the second great spiritual test for the exercise of spiritual gifts—are God’s people blessed by the use and manifestation of your spiritual gifts?
You are the dwelling place of God. As such, you have the greatest gift in you, a gift that is meant to be shared and used for the good of God’s kingdom and people.
Reflection:
Have you considered the divine reality that you have been given spiritual gifts by the Lord? If not, spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal those to you today then consider how you can use those spiritual gifts to build the body of Christ, to share the Gospel, and to see God’s kingdom expand in this world. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Related Resource:
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit a "gift" who will guide us, lead us, and empower us. Yet many believers don't experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This unique Christian small group Bible study provides a space in which we can explore what it truly means to "walk in the Spirit" on a daily basis. The Spirit-Filled Life small group curriculum centers on a 6-part video teaching series examining the life-giving and creative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Begin to experience the gift today!
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