Daily Devotional
How Did God Design the Body of Christ to Work?
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
October 25, 2024
Ponder This
God gave you a spiritual gift not for your enjoyment but for your employment. Your spiritual gift is to bless the Church, not to bless you. It is a tool, not a toy. Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift of God, and that’s what we need to do too. We need to study to show ourselves approved to God.
If a person has the natural talent to sing, he or she must develop it. So, you also have a spiritual gift, but you have to study it and work at it to develop it. When we start to pursue the Lord with our gifts, growing in our relationship with Him and improving in our gifts, something beautiful happens. Ephesians 4:13 says, “we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” In other words, God has given His people gifts, and when these gifts work together, the body matures and becomes like its head, the Lord Jesus Christ.
- How have you used your spiritual gifts to build up the Body of Christ?
- How have you benefited from someone else’s spiritual gift?
Practice This
Take a spiritual gifts test to see what your gifting is, or if you know your gift, put it into practice to build up the Body of Christ.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
