Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

 

Riya Varughese
St. Andrews MTC, NY


Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7

 There was once a boy who always wanted a pair of skates. One year for Christmas, his dad bought him the pair of skates that he wanted. The boy did not want to ruin his skates or share it with the other kids and so he never took the skates out of his room; he only skated around his bed. Eventually he grew out of the skates but never truly got a chance to enjoy them to its full extent.
 This boy’s predicament is like that of the servant in Mathew 25:14-30 who was given one bag of gold. He placed it in a hole that he had dug so that it would remain there till his master’s return. When the master returned, he was the only one who had not made a profit and thus lost whatever was given to him to begin with.
 As it states in today’s passage, each of us are given the gift(s) of the Holy Spirt as the Spirit deems fit according to each of our abilities just as the master gave the servant a bag of gold based on his abilities. We may not receive all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but it is up to us to use the gifts that were given to us for the common good of everyone. We are not to hide our gifts like the boy hid his new skates. What use will there be then? Why should we be given a gift if we are never to use it? Indeed, just as in the parable, it would be more useful for our gift to be given to someone who already has many gifts and uses it for the benefit of others and to glorify God.
 Now there is a difference between using the gift for ourselves and using the gift for the common good. Keeping the gifts of the Holy Spirit to ourselves would be just the same as not using it at all. Think of it like this: if a carpenter only makes furniture for himself and a farmer only grows crops to feed himself then the carpenter would go hungry and the farmer would have no furniture. However, when they share their skills, everyone benefits. In the same way, when we use the gifts of the Holy Spirit and not keep it to ourselves, many will benefit. Through our gifts, God’s name will be glorified.

PRAYER

Lord we pray for You to guide us with Your Holy Spirit to recognize our gifts so that we may use them for the common good of others and glorify Your name. Amen.


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“The Holy Spirit can be with you always and guide you back to Him, but in order to enjoy the benefits of this holy gift, you must truly receive it, and then you must use it in your life. How sad it would be to be given such a precious gift and then set it aside and never use it.” –  Margaret D. Nadauld

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more