Saturday, May 21, 2016

Spirit Gifts: What's My Gift?

I Corinthians 12:8-11
To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
Wow!
What an amazing list of gifts
from You to us with love!
Thank you, God.

It seems to me,
the Apostle Paul does not intend
for this list to be the only gifts,
but rather his is a starting place...
The Spirit gives "just as the Spirit chooses."

What else
might be included
in the list of Spirit Gifts?
Technology,
Wealth creation,
Social well-being,
Caring for the poor,
Compassion for the hungry,
Acts of justice,
Peace making,
Leadership,
Teaching,
Environmental renewal,
Creativity,
Stewardship,
... and the list of gifts from the Spirit
for the good of the world
goes on...

But ultimately, Lord, the question becomes:
What is MY gift?
What gift have you given me?
What is it that you have invested in my life
that I might use to do your will?

I heard recently one way
to begin to answer those questions
by exploring these questions:
"What are the unique needs where God has placed you?
What are the unique resources and capabilities that God brings together in you?
What particular focus most energizes and animates you?"
from Church Unique by Will Mancini
Amazing, Lord,
so many gifts
for so much good
from the One same Spirit.
Unite us in that One Spirit
to be about your work in the world.
Amen.

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