I would like to spend the next 3 weeks sharing some thoughts and reflection on these chapters. Sandwiched right in the middle, is that famous “love” chapter – Chapter 13. Many have chosen just to camp out in this chapter and allow the beauty of it to speak to them about what real love (God’s kind of love) truly is. However, reading this chapter in the proper context of what Paul is speaking about overall, helps us to better understand what God calls – A More Excellent Way. 

Today, let’s focus on chapter 12. Each truly redeemed believer is given by The Spirit of God a spiritual gift. This gift is not for his or her own benefit. As Peter tells us, a spiritual gift is given in order to edify (build up by serving) the whole body of Christ – the church.

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. [1Pet 4:10]

The gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophesy, discernment, tongues, translating/ interpreting of tongues are examples of gifts the Spirit of God chose to grant to each believer so that their respective churches would develop spiritually. Again, it is God’s Spirit that gifts each believer as HE chooses. And although some are given more ‘noticeable’ gifts, each “gifted” believer is equal in the sight of God. In order for each church to function as God has purposed, each spiritually-gifted member must do what he or she has been ‘gifted’ to do. As each member fulfills his or her role in the church (and home), Christ’s body will function together…as one. Sadly, the opposite is true – when one or more choose to not fulfill his or her role which God has given to them, then that particular body (home or church) will become dysfunctional. As a result, there will be division and discord, not oneness and unity. Each member is called by God to care for one another. If and when one suffers, they all suffer. If and when one is honored, they all are to rejoice. 

God has first appointed in His church, those who are to lead – apostles (the early church), prophets, and teachers. Next – those who do miracles, those with gifts of healing, those who have the gift of helping others, administrators, and those with the gift of tongues. Not everyone has the same gift. But God is the One who designates each of His redeemed with a certain spiritual gift in order to build up the body as a whole. If we do desire to have any gift from God, Paul wants all of us to clearly understand that God is most concerned about why we do what we do than HE is about what we do. It is true that The Spirit of God has gifted each of us who are in Christ. But if each gift is not done in and with a spirit of humility, selflessness, and love then Paul reveals in the next chapter what one truly is…in God’s eyes. 

Next week, I will take time to share some thoughts and reflections on one of the most read passages in all of Scripture. Sadly, most do not read this chapter in its proper context. That’s why reading chapter 12 helps one to read chapter 13 the right way. It is not just a chapter about love. It’s a chapter about the condition of our hearts in both the church and in the home. God wants us to know that there is to be faith, hope and love – in His church and in His home. But the greatest gift of all is…love! That is God’s more excellent way.