January 7

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. 2 Corinthians 12:28-31.

Paul goes on to describe the better way—the way of love. Yet, as I work with others in the body of Christ, I am amazed at the variety of gifts. Many of these gifts seem to go unnoticed by man, but I know they are noticed by God.

Today, as I heard a story by a friend about how he had been used to bring about healing in a dying man, I thought that it would be wonderful to experience that gift. I must admit to a tinge of jealousy. And then I recalled the verses above. Somehow, in the providence and order of God, we are not all to have the same gifts. I watched others around me perform duties of helps, of hospitality, and of being good listeners. Even the person who has the gift of healing needed to have good listeners around him. It was as if the healing was made more complete and more lives potentially could be changed when fellow believers were available to listen and offer praise to God for what He had done. Somehow God sees the body as a well functioning, living organism when there is a variety of gifts to be expressed. All of us are invaluable to the body of Christ.

As I think on these things, Father, I realize that I may express gifts that are largely unknown to me. I need to start by being content to believe Your word and to act on it in faith. You have pointed to the greatest gift—love. Let me be changed and empowered by Your love so that it pours out upon others around me. That will mean that I will not be the center of attention; I will not be the one who appears to be the most gifted or the most spiritual. Instead I want only to be a valuable servant—to my fellow believers and to the people of this world. Thank You, Lord, for making all of that possible through Jesus. Amen.
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