LORD’S DAY, APRIL 9
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
1 Corinthians 12:1-11

So that ye come behind in no gift…"

NOT LACKING IN SPIRITUAL GIFTS!

God did not leave the Corinthian Christians destitute of resources as they served the Lord Jesus Christ. As a confirmation of the testimony of Christ in the Corinthian Christians, God also provided them with the necessary spiritual gifts to use in their labour for Christ. The term translated "gift" is the Greek word charisma. It comes from the root word charis, which means "grace." Paul wanted the Corinthian Christians to know that the spiritual gifts that they had were graciously given by God. The Corinthian Christians ought to be thankful for this privilege, and were to use these spiritual gifts faithfully for the glory of God.

Sadly, the Corinthian Christians failed to comprehend that these gifts were "graciously" given to them by God. Instead, they boasted about their gifts and abused them in the church. Paul responded to this issue: the diversities of spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:1-11); the purpose of spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:12-31); the motive of spiritual gifts (1 Cor 13) and the proper use of spiritual gifts (1 Cor 14).

Every Christian will be granted at least one spiritual gift. Our duty is to use these gifts for "the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph 4:12). "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness" (Rom 12:3-8).

THOUGHT: What spiritual gifts has God given to me?
PRAYER: Help me to be a good steward of Thy gifts, O Lord!