Bible League: Living His Word As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.The Holy Spirit has been poured out from heaven above onto every Christian (Joel 2:28). As a result, we have a supernatural gifting of help (John 14:16), strength (Ephesians 3:16), guidance (Romans 8:14), and much more working within us. One might say that the Holy Spirit works with whatever natural abilities we have within us and takes them to whole new levels of effectiveness. Sometimes the Holy Spirit imparts a truly special and extraordinary gift or gifts to a person. The wisdom of our verse for today applies to every gift of the Spirit, but it seems to have these special gifts in mind primarily. It could be anything. It could be a special gift of administration, healing, miracles, wisdom and knowledge, and so on. Although the Bible gives us lists of such gifts in places, there is no reason to think that the lists are exhaustive. God can anoint a person with a special gift of the Holy Spirit for any purpose He chooses. The gifts of the Spirit, ordinary or extraordinary, are meant for ministry. That is, they are meant to be used to minister to the needs of the other members of the body of Christ and to people in general. Thus, they must be put into practice. We have been given the gifts, but it is up to us to make use of them. That's why the Apostle Paul told Timothy not to "neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership" (I Timothy 4:14). We should also be good stewards of the gifts we have been given. In this context, a steward is someone who manages the grace of God as an agent of God Himself. Thus, we should use the gifts we have been given on God's behalf and for His plans and purposes. This is how Paul viewed his own gifts. He said, "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (I Corinthians 4:1). And, as mere stewards, we should be "found faithful" by God (I Corinthians 4:2). Don't underestimate your special gifts. Don't neglect to put them into practice. People need them. They need the grace God has given you to manage. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 36, 37 Ezekiel 36 -- The Mountains of Israel Will Be Blessed NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 37 -- Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones; Judah and Israel Reunified NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Peter 3 1 Peter 3 -- Wives and Husbands; It is Better to Suffer for Doing Good NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.Insight Jesus was God's agent in creating the world. As followers of Christ, we may give easy assent to this truth but deny it in practice. We may believe that Christ knows and controls the laws of heaven (pertaining to salvation and spiritual growth), but we may act each day as though our financial, family, or medical problems are beyond his reach. If Jesus could create the universe, then no part of life is out of his control. Do not exclude Jesus' wisdom and the Bible's guidance in your complex problems of life. No expert, professor, doctor, lawyer, or financial advisor knows more about your ultimate security and well-being than Jesus does. Challenge Go first to God for advice. Talk to him in prayer and listen to him in his Word. He can sustain you in times of stress. From that perspective you can evaluate all the other wisdom and help made available to you. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Zechariah 4:10 They shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel.Small things marked the beginning of the work in the hand of Zerubbabel, but none might despise it, for the Lord had raised up one who would persevere until the headstone should be brought forth with shoutings. The plummet was in good hands. Here is the comfort of every believer in the Lord Jesus; let the work of grace be ever so small in its beginnings, the plummet is in good hands, a master builder greater than Solomon has undertaken the raising of the heavenly temple, and he will not fail nor be discouraged till the topmost pinnacle shall be raised. If the plummet were in the hand of any merely human being, we might fear for the building, but the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in Jesus' hand. The works did not proceed irregularly, and without care, for the master's hand carried a good instrument. Had the walls been hurriedly run up without due superintendence, they might have been out of the perpendicular; but the plummet was used by the chosen overseer. Jesus is evermore watching the erection of his spiritual temple, that it may be built securely and well. We are for haste, but Jesus is for judgment. He will use the plummet, and that which is out of line must come down, every stone of it. Hence the failure of many a flattering work, the overthrow of many a glittering profession. It is not for us to judge the Lord's church, since Jesus has a steady hand, and a true eye, and can use the plummet well. Do we not rejoice to see judgment left to him? The plummet was in active use--it was in the builder's hand; a sure indication that he meant to push on the work to completion. O Lord Jesus, how would we indeed be glad if we could see thee at thy great work. O Zion, the beautiful, thy walls are still in ruins! Rise, thou glorious Builder, and make her desolations to rejoice at thy coming. Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Corinthians 7:10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.2 Samuel 17:23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father. Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it? Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored? Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; • To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, • To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. • "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. • "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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