Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Monday, 9 June 2014 "Different activities but the same God"

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Monday, 9 June 2014  "Different activities but the same God"
Daily Scripture:  1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were heathen,[a] you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. 6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; 10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. 11 But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 12:2 or Gentiles
Reflection Questions:
The culture of the Greek seaport city of Corinth (like that of Rome, the empire's capital—and like ours) urged people to fight their way to the "top spot," and to trample anyone who got in their way. Humanly, we tend to see relationships like a pyramid, with the most important place and person on the point at the top. But the apostle Paul said the church was NOT like a pyramid. Instead, he said, every member of the church was important in doing God's work.
We may think God only gives "churchy" gifts, like singing, praying, or working with kids. The book Understanding Spiritual Gifts said, "We often overlook our "everyday" human attributes like having a strong back or being able to repair machines or grow flowers. Some of us can organize; some can do accounting; some can greet people warmly and make them feel welcome; some can make plants grow. Think about such natural abilities and how God might use them." Are you overlooking any of your gifts as "too ordinary"?
Paul introduced this subject by writing, "Brothers and sisters, I don't want you to be ignorant about spiritual gifts." Why not? What's the downside to the church of having many of its members not serving in any way, or serving in ways that God hasn't gifted them to serve? What's the downside for the people involved? (To learn more about your spiritual gifts, visit www.cor.org/spiritualgifts—there are two classes in July.)
Today's Prayer:
Giving God, you have given me gifts, and called me to use them to do your work on this earth. Guide me as I seek to discover, develop and use these gifts for your glory. Amen.
Insight from Jeanna Repass
Jeanna Repass serves as a leader in Resurrection’s outreach programs to neighborhoods surrounding the Leawood campus.
My family is full of performers. My Aunt Nola JeanPierre and Cousin Johnny Orduna are both trained and celebrated opera singers. My Mother plays seven musical instruments and sings like an angel (if I do say so myself). My two surviving brothers are actors (one in LA one in Seattle) and the entirety of my extended family is made up of singers – really good singers!
Before this sounds like a brag-fest as opposed to a scriptural reflection, let me land this “hot air” brag balloon. I am the exception. I don’t sing, can’t act, and though I used to dance, a slowed 40-something metabolism and an extra 30 pounds have curbed that. So when the extended family gets together as they did two weeks ago for my daughter’s graduation and we had a Karaoke party to celebrate – I stayed away from the stage and the microphone. Performing is not my gift.
My gifts are a bit more surreptitious. Prior to the gathering of the cousins, there needed to be planning and lists and itineraries for the weekend and cleaning – LOTS of cleaning. Hotel rooms and tents and chocolate fountains had to be reserved and food had to be ordered and invitations had to be organized, addressed, stamped and mailed. As much as I would love to be the singer – I am the cleaner and organizer. Cleaning is one of my gifts. Hospitality and organization are a couple more. I don’t share this to boast – I am actually doing a little bit of self-affirmation here.
Being the cleaner and organizer in a family full of people (male and female) who can command any audience even from a Karaoke stage in my back yard doesn’t always feel like a gift.
This is why Paul’s message today was meant for the Corinthian who lives in my house – ME. I totally understand that others have gifts of the spirit including: singing, prophesy, healing, discerning and speaking in unknown languages etc. (I Corinthians 12: 8-10) and others have gifts from God that fall outside this list. Mine do. But what Paul is admonishing us to do is to believe that all good gifts come from God and all our gifts should be offered with gladness and given away freely – the same way they were given to us. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good…but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (I Corinthians 12: 7 & 6). Whatever our gifts – we can use them for good. Whether in serving others, in service of others, in praise, in comfort, in work, in play – just do and praise God for the gift! Amen.
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