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Thursday, March
27, 2008
The Gift of God
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(KJV)
God gave us the perfect gift in the form
of His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we to could manifest God’s plan of
salvation however or whatever way He sees fit. The question you have to
answer for yourself is ‘will you find your place in the body of Christ and
allow His spirit to work in you as well?’
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 Now ye are the
body of Christ, and members in particular. (28) And God hath set some in
the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after
that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues. (29) Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all
workers of miracles? (30) Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with
tongues? do all interpret? (31) But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet
shew I unto you a more excellent way. (KJV)
God has set and would like to set you in
the body where He knows you are best suited, and where you would be able to
be the most effective. While many think that they know how to be the most
effective it’s only those that allow God to work through them in the place
He would have them to be that will be the ones He will work through and
manifest His Spirit through. Are all of us qualified to be in the position
of an apostle or a prophet, if not then leave it alone. Are you developed
enough in the calling or qualification of healing or speaking in tongues
and interpreting them as well, if not then don’t pretend you are just
because someone else is. Like verse 31 says, covet the best gifts or
qualification that you are best suited for; because if you haven’t been
called to a certain position or you are trying to operate in a place that
God hasn’t called you to or you are not developed in, you will be
ineffective. I have been a truck driver and a transit operator for most of
my working days which is a talent God gave me and blessed me with. But I
can assure you that if I needed medical attention or knew someone else that
did, I would gladly point them or myself to someone that was qualified and
had an understanding concerning healing. You know what they say about those
that are their own doctor; they end up with fools for patients. Have you
ever watched medical shows on TV when they do an operation? You see that it
takes someone who is trained and knows what they are doing so that they can
provide the remedy. Just because you stayed at a Holiday Inn doesn’t make
you qualified, the same holds true in the Spiritual realm. God does not
want a novice any more than you would want a novice physician doing life
and death surgery on you.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Though I speak with
the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as
sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (2) And though I have the gift of
prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I
have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I
am nothing. (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and
though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me
nothing. (KJV)
Paul ended chapter 12 saying that he
would show us a more excellent way and here it is, what it comes down to is
the motive of the heart. You may have a tremendous zeal for God, but if it
is not being done in love then it is all for naught and will profit
nothing. Love is laying down your life for the brethren; finding your place
in the body and allowing God to work through you no matter where He has set
you in the body or how He chooses to work through you. You may have learned
to speak and pray in a tongue of man or that of an angel or a spiritual
nature, but if it is not done in love it is of no avail. So again what is
the motive of your heart and how are you responding to the calling of God
and the gift He has given? Are you a gift that is allowing the life of God
to flow through you or have you become a stumbling block to others, causing
more confusion than peace?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Charity suffereth
long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not
puffed up, (5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but
rejoiceth in the truth; (7) Beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things. (KJV)
The manifestation of the Spirit is given
for us to profit in, and nothing will demonstrate that better than the
motive of love. Everything we see here in the above verses totally
contradicts what we have learned from the past, like the term looking out
for number one. Number one is now the members of the one body in Christ,
something we should be more concerned with than our own desires. The Bible
says that we should do unto others as we would like done unto us, even
though the second part of that verse doesn’t always turn out that way. Even
though we don’t always receive from others what we put forth, it doesn’t
mean we should lower our standards and stoop to a different level.
1 Corinthians 13:8-11 Charity never
faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be
tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish
away. (9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. (10) But when that
which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
(11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
(KJV)
God so loved the world that He gave us
His only begotten Son so that we could partake of His divine nature and
learn how to reciprocate His charity, which is another word for love, back
to Him as well as other members of the body. Love never fails; it is a sure
fire way to allow the Spirit, the gift of Christ, to manifest and work
through us. While many have tried to impress others with much speaking and
head knowledge, and while others thought that by speaking in tongues they
would really be impressive, in the end it will all just vanish away and the
only thing left that will make any difference is those that chose to walk
in love. How have you answered the call of God? Are you doing it with the
motive of love not only on His behalf but for the members of the body of
Christ as well, or are you motivated by trying to impress others, which has
just been described as being of no profit?
1 Corinthians 13:12-13 For now we see
through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but
then shall I know even as also I am known. (13) And now abideth faith,
hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (KJV)
Someday we will be able to see the
totality of God’s plan of salvation without having to deal with our carnal
understanding. So for now we will have to settle for a glimpse into the
heavenly realm, building a foundation one day at a time. The best way to
clear this up for today is with an understanding and a motive of love, a
perfect mature love that casts out all fear. How are you handling the gift
God gave? Are you able to see for yourself where you fit in the body and is
your desire to edify others, or are motives childish and self serving? It’s
the best gift available to all mankind, the gift of God, which He would
love for you to receive if you would love to have it.
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