Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Identity – 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 -Many Parts, But One Body – Growing As Disciples
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (NIV)
Your Gifts
What spiritual gifts have I given to you? I can see the look on your face. What’s that? You like a deer caught in head lights. What do you mean by that? You look dumbfounded. You don’t have much of a clue about what are your spiritual gifts. Oh, you have same vague idea of what might be your spiritual gifts. But, you aren’t certain, that’s for sure. Have I got this right? Is what I am saying true? Yes, I have only a vague idea about what might be my spiritual gifts. That vague uncertainty about your spiritual gifts is troubling to you, isn’t it? Yes, I would like to know for certain what spiritual gifts you have given to me. That is a very good desire.
Why would you like to know what spiritual gifts I have given to you? Does that sound like a dumb question to you? I’m certain that you do not ask dumb questions. No, it is a very good question. Why is that? I want to know how I can best serve you. I would like to better understand your call on my life. I would like greater clarity about where you want me to go and what you want me to do for you. If I am unclear about my spiritual gifts it is unlikely that I will cultivate, develop and fully use them. That’s true. I might even try to function in areas that are completely outside of my spiritual gifting. You have been there and done that. I might even desire and envy spiritual gifts that aren’t mine. There is no, “might” about that. I may waste quite a bit of time trying to do what you have not called or gifted me to do for you. There is no, “may” about that either. You have experienced a lot of frustration and wasted time and effort by not knowing and using your spiritual gifts, isn’t that true? That is completely true.
I want you to know and use your spiritual gifts. I want you to hear my call on your life. I want you to be able to go and do all that I ask of you. I don’t want you to waste your time and effort on something that I have not I have not called or gifted you to do for me. Does all of this come as a surprise to you? No, it does not. What is the problem then? Why are you unclear about your spiritual gifts and my calling on your life? I think there are three things I need to concentrate on and do. What’s that? I need to ask you about my spiritual gifts. I need to listen to what you say to me about my spiritual gifts. Then I need to step out in faith and use the spiritual gifts you have given to me. That’s a good plan. Oh, one more thing. What’s that? I need to stop envying other people and their spiritual gifts and be content to keep on using the spiritual gifts you have given to me. That’s a great idea.
Lord, sometimes I have desired and envied a spiritual gift that wasn’t mine. Sometimes, I have been afraid to step out in faith to use my spiritual gifts. Forgive me of both attitudes. Help me to fully discover and completely use the gifts you have given to me. Amen
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