From the Edges – The Gift Worth Receiving – Daily Devotional

From the Edges – Morning Devotions
Pastor Calvin Cook – June 1, 2024
The Gift Worth Receiving

Scripture focus 1 Corinthians 12:1-7 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Back in April after reading the account of Jesus calling the Disciples to follow and push off into the deep, we are going to take that journey this morning. As we have been focusing on the Holy Spirit the last couple of weeks, I realized this morning in my prayer time that it has been about what the Holy Spirit does for us. Of course, this move of the Holy Spirit is dependent on if we receive it or not. We must acknowledge that everyday the Lord is doing a great, wonderful, and new thing, but the reality is that we are not willing to receive and allow it to happen.

As we go just a little deeper this morning in our understanding of the Holy Spirit, I would like to think about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There is some discussion about which gifts are of the Holy Spirit and which gifts are to be used for the edification of the church. Though we will not approach that subject this morning. We will look at the reference in 1 Corinthians 12 where the teaching occurs in verse 7 “to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” The first reasoning we must have that the common good is not our common good, but for the common good of God. That we willingly allow the Holy Spirit to move in us, receiving the gifts that change us for God’s purposes.

Some would argue that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are not relevant for today. However, 1 Cor 12:8-10 (abbreviated from the ECV) shares that the Holy Spirit delivered gifts: the utterance of wisdom, the utterance of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, the ability to distinguish between spirits, various kinds of tongues, the interpretation of tongues are all empowered by the Holy Spirit who gives individually as he wills. (verse 11). Note in these verses from 1 Corinthians 12 or anywhere else that I can find in scripture is a time limit or expiration date for these gifts. With that understanding the gifts of healing, miracles, discernment, prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation, words of knowledge, distinguishing between evil and good is as relevant today as it was in the 1st century. We, some of us have chosen to ignore, choose, and discount the wonder working power of the Holy Spirit that are given to the people who have received all that God has and is doing in our life, inclusive of receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior of our life.

Read the closing verse of 1 Cor 12:31 “But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” The closing thought would be this, “What are you desiring?”. Are you so focused on the things of this world that you can’t see, feel, experience, receive all that God wants to do in your life. Are you happy in squander and slop instead of a more excellent way.

I pray that in going deeper in our faith that we can be saved from drowning in a sea of uncertainty, sinfulness, and confusion.