Today is August 6.


The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.    
  
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 12.  
  

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. 
 
 
Here the Apostle Paul shares with us a metaphor of the church. The church is like a body. It has hands and feet. It has eyes and ears. It has a mouth and a mind. And each person who is a follower of Christ is to fulfill their function in that body. Each of us has a part. You are vital—essential, even—to the church, to the body of Christ, to function well? Consider a body that has a mind but no mouth, no way to communicate. Or can see but not hear. Or has hands, but no feet to move? Take a moment and ask yourself if you are taking your place in the body of Christ? 
  
As you hear the passage again, consider what gift God has given you for the sake of others. Are you someone who is compelled to bring the good news of Jesus, like an apostle? Or do you have a word from God to share, like a prophet? Do you have faith to pray for miracles? Does God want you to release God’s healing power? Do you have the ability to help others understand God’s word? Or do you have the gift of prayer, even praying in a spiritual language? What gift resonates with you today?   
   
These gifts aren’t meant to be exhaustive. And they aren’t natural gifts like your temperament. They are special gifts that God gives in order to be the body of Christ in the world. And the scriptures tell us that God gives these gifts to everyone who follows Jesus, so that the body of Christ might be built up and strengthened. As we close our time, would you take a few moments and name the one gift that resonated with you and hold it before the Lord, and ask him to fill it with his power and presence. As him to give you grace and courage to step out today and use the gift that he’s given you.

Music: Above All Else - Vineyard Columbus - (YouTube)