The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 27 March 2023 – The Same Spirit
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TOPIC: The Same Spirit
READ: 1 Corinthians 12: 12-28 (KJV)
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
THE MESSAGE:
We are all united into one body by the same Spirit(1Cor.12: 13). So, we are all members of Christ after we are born again and have the same Spirit dwelling in us. Therefore, if we all have the same Spirit deposited in us, what influences our behaviour is our level of yielding to this Spirit of God in us.
Each part of the physical body is important and is needed for other members of the body to function maximally. Similarly, we need each other with varied gifts, to function as an effective church. So the person with the gift of working of miracles should not think he is greater than those with the gift of faith or prophecy and vice versa. Let us appreciate all the gifts that God has put in the lives of people for the effectiveness of His Church. This is because the same Spirit of God is in us, expressing Himself as He wills, through us all, in various dimensions, for the growth and prosperity of the church. Hence there is no room for comparison of gifts. Rather, we must diligently make use of our gifts for the work assigned to us by God. Remember the teaching of Christ about servants that were given different amounts of talents(Matt.25: 14-30). Do you know your gifts? Are you utilising them effectively to fulfil the purpose of God for your life?
PRAYER: Father, help me to faithfully use your gift(s) in me to serve your church. Amen.
