Devotionals

40 Days of Growth - Join Us

Prayer for 26 October

God, the whole universe is yours. The highest heavens and the earth and everything in it belong to you. And, even though all this is yours, you still desire a relationship with me. I am the object of your love. Forgive me for being stubborn. Forgive me for holding too tightly to the sin I crave. Jesus, help me to grow in my faith so that I might be more like you, more frequently choosing my relationship with the Father over my own sinful desires. Spirit convict me of my sin, and uproot it so that it might no longer burden me. God, may I trust in your Promise of fullness of life in Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Amen.

Part of what makes life worth living and satisfying is to be connected to other people in meaningful relationships. It's one thing to say it, and to believe it, yet something quite different to live it out. We encourage you to find a small group of believers to connect with and to share your life with. You won't look back, we promise.

Devotions

"Devotions" is the name we use for a regular, set-aside time to spend with God-- just you and Him, alone to pray, or read the Bible, to study some aspect of his character, his promises, his scriptures, or to just sit quietly and meditate on his truth.

We will be compiling some devotionals online for you to interact with. Be sure to come back here as Forty Days of Growth draws closer, and begin to participate with us as we seek him in honesty and transparency... laying it all out, no-holds-barred. You may want to subscribe to the devotionals RSS Feed. You may also download the devotionals in PDF format.

When we approach God in our frail brokeness, aware of our shortcomings and weaknesses, he is there to lift us up, to teach us, to make us strong in his ways... which are often counter-intuitive.

22 November

Wednesday

1 Corinthians12:4-11 (The New Revised Standard Version):

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Reflecton:

All Christians are temples of God's Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Accordingly, we all receive a manifestation of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Some people refer to this manifestation as "spiritual gifts," or "gifts of the Holy Spirit." To deny that we do receive the Spirit, and accordingly, to deny gifts of the Spirit, is to deny the transforming power of the gospel.
It is common for us to rank the gifts of the Spirit in a false hierarchy. For example, a person called to pastoral ministry might have a gift of knowledge whereas another person called to hospitality might have the gift of compassion or encouragement. Unfortunately, we often hold the gift of knowledge in higher esteem than the gifts of compassion or encouragement. But, how can this be if all gifts come from the same Spirit and all are distributed as he chooses?
How often do we create a hierarchy within Christianity? Why do we tend to put pastors and teachers on a higher plane than other Christians? The responsibilities might be different, but all are part of one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-31), and all receive their gifts from the same Spirit.
How often do we forget that our gifts are given not for ourselves, but for the common good? How does an understanding of the common good effect our temptation to rank the spiritual gifts?
How often do we lack faith that the Holy Spirit might grant the gift of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, the discernment of spirits, speaking in various kinds of tongues, or the interpretation of tongues? Is God so weak that he is not able to grant us these gifts?

Prayer:

God, we all receive our salvation from you. Father, we know that the universe was created and is being sustained by one God. We all have one Lord, Jesus Christ, and we are all filled with one Spirit. In spite of all this, I confess, Spirit, that I often rank your gifts. More than that, however, I lack faith to believe that you might even grant the church some of your gifts because they seem too supernatural or magnificent. I am of little faith. Forgive me Father, when I divide the church into categories of Christians and consider some to be greater than others. Forgive me Father, when I lack faith in your Spirit or cease to believe in the miracles of your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to grow in faith so that I might recognize the transforming power of my salvation. Help me to recognize the gifts you have given me so that I might serve others. May my life glorify your name as I serve the church and extend your love to others. Amen.