1 Corinthians 12: 4-11

There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; and there are different ministries and the same Lord; and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good. A word of wisdom is given by the Spirit to one person, a word of knowledge to another according to the same Spirit, faith to still another by the same Spirit, gifts of healing to another in the one Spirit, performance of miracles to another, prophecy to another, the ability to tell spirits apart to another, different kinds of tongues to another, and the interpretation of the tongues to another. All these things are produced by the one and same Spirit who gives what she wants to each person.

This passage is the perfect piece of Scripture to remind us that we are all part of the priesthood of all believers. All of creation serves a role in the kin-dom of God; serving, leading, and offering gifts, are not only the tasks and abilities of the teaching and ruling elders, but of everyone. Even the car mechanic serves a purpose in the kin-dom as they fix the cars that deacons and elders might drive to pay a pastoral visit. Teachers serve in the priesthood, teaching children how to explore, learn, and discover, so that they can grow into individuals who can read, study, and think critically about their role in the world and better it.

All of these things come from the Spirit, the breath of God, as personal gifts to each of us. It is not ours to decide what our gifts will be, but it is our responsibility to decide how we will use them. There is room in the kin-dom of God for all, not just those deemed worthy. All gifts create the whole, and no gift is better than another. Each gift is as unique and as important as each creature that God has made.

When you are in a situation where you can’t see your own gifts, when you feel less important, or as though your gifts aren’t as good as others’ gifts, remember this: your gifts, whatever they are, are given to you from the breath of God. They are given without asking, like grace. We did nothing to deserve these gifts, but they are given, just the same; and it is our responsibility how we will use each of our gifts on earth to better one another and bring about God’s kin-dom on this earth.

Lord, you are the ultimate gift giver. Help us to see our gifts, so that we may use them, and build them up. Remind us that we play an important part in the body of the church. Remind us that us, and our gifts, are important, because they come from you, and we should use them to glorify you. Amen.