|
Home
Archive
March
February
January
Comments
and/or Questions
|
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.
|
