SPIRITUAL GIFTS, IN A NUTSHELL -- Devotional for June 16, from "Good Seeds"

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; varieties of ministries, but the same Lord; and varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all person; but to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (I Cor.12:4-7)

It was no accident that God chose a literary genius to write most of the New Testament. Sometimes the apostle Paul liked to go on and on in intricate, erudite detail and with page long sentences (maybe to test our study skills!). But we can be thankful that at other times he was brief, succinct, and clear as a bell! Today’s passage is an example of this, where we find a beautiful summary of the Bible’s teaching on the subject of spiritual gifts. The last statement in the passage is the first and most important fact to know: the skill, specialization and particular leaning God intends for us comes as a gift, carefully selected and doled out to each individual by the Spirit of God for the unique work He intends for us to do. That work is legion in variety but singular in purpose: “the common good.” Jesus “went about doing good,” and when He returned to heaven, He left us here, following “in His steps,” to continue in and complete that good work. Christians are not to be merely good, we’re to be good for something – otherwise we’re good for nothing, right?! And it is by spiritual gifts that we can be and do good, for man’s good, and God’s glory. The Trinity is at work in these spiritual gifts. Look at the verse again: “The same God” = The Father; “The same Lord” = the Son; “the same Spirit” – the Holy Spirit. And another trinity is seen here in the variety of ways spiritual gifts are to be understood and put to use:
#1 Motivational Gifts: In Romans 12:6-8 Paul lists seven gifts, all having to do with the grid upon which its user operates. They are like colored glasses: the one with the gift of service sees every event or person in his life as an opportunity to help; but that same scenario would be viewed by the prophet as a teaching moment. And so on with the other five motivation gifts.
#2 Ministry Gifts: In Ephesians 4:8-14 Paul speaks of gifts as particular gifted men and women that God places in the body: apostles (missionaries), prophets (teachers, warn-ers), evangelists, and pastors (shepherds). Add to these children’s workers, worship leaders, etc.
#3 Manifestation Gifts: In I Corinthians 12:8-31, Paul describes the fruit which comes from the application of #1 to #2. Regarding the learnings and warnings and miracles that come, we are not to seek or specify such results – that’s God’s business. We just do our job with our gift. This is the fulfillment of Philippians 2:13, “For it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” --