Understanding Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.

One of the marks of an individual’s maturity is a growing understanding of, and appreciation for, his own body. There is a parallel in the spiritual life: as we mature in Christ, we gain a better understanding of the church, which is Christ’s body. The emphasis in recent years on “body life” has been a good one. It has helped to counteract the wrong emphasis on “individual Christianity” that can lead to isolation from the local church. Of course, the image of the “body” is not the only one Paul used in discussing the church, and we must be careful not to press it too far. The church is also a family, an army, a temple, and even a bride; and each image has important lessons to teach us. It was the Spirit who gave birth to the body at Pentecost and who ministers in and through the body. In the Corinthian church, unfortunately, the members were grieving the Holy Spirit by the carnal ways in which they were using spiritual gifts. They were like children with toys instead of adults with valuable tools, and they needed to mature. ¹

Application

• Read Romans 12:3-5. Observe how grace and faith, both from God, are for you.
• God supplies the grace & faith to be saved, and the grace & faith to serve.

Thought to Share

Without His grace and His faith, nothing significant will ever happen. – TWEET IT

Prayer

Lord, keep me spiritually awake and alert to the working of the Holy Spirit.