Each One

1 Corinthians 12:7 manifestation of Spirit for common good

Series: Receive A Gift

1 Corinthians 12:7 MSG

Philippians 3:4-8 NLT

Daily (actually several a times a day) we can be reminded of the greatness of God all around us.

We just have to stop or at least slow down long enough to see where God is at work.

In I Corinthians 12:7 the Apostle Paul wrote, “Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits.”

The key to seeing where God is at work is found inside each person.

When I was twelve years old I somehow became obsessed with reading and understanding scripture.

Looking back I can see that because I spent a lot of time sitting with my dad, I started reading scripture. That was probably because my dad read his ole Bible all the time. (Well, whenever Gunsmoke or Rawhide wasn’t on).

I remember singing or humming the Rawhide song so much that my teachers looked at me when I was humming it.

My life obsession became periodically watching shows or movies like The Cowboys, Big Jake, and Unforgiven.

When I was a child I sat at the fireplace near my dad and I also learned that reading the Bible frequently was a good way to spend my time alone.

I also had Sunday School Teachers who challenged us to memorize scripture.

My life pattern was set.

In my twenties I met and married a fellow who was finishing college ad heading to Seminary. Later God called me to go to Seminary as well.

That turned out to be one of my greatest challenges because at the time a Master of Divinity degree was 144 hours and it took me 7 years (fulltime) to complete.

It was not an easy journey (Especially learning Hebrew) but to this day I consider it a great blessing.

Month after month, year after year as I studied I thought of my dad (who had passed away) and remembered how much he loved studying the Bible.

When I was small I knew my dad was a Sunday School teacher for a large adult class. He studied all week for his Sunday School lesson. He had a college degree in Engineering but his passion was studying scripture.

So…back to the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote letters to churches we still read today.

He was a Hebrew of Hebrews.

Generation after generation his family had been Hebrew. We know from Philippians 3:4-8, “though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”

Paul was raised in a family that was Hebrew, and his family was of the Hebrew tribe of Benjamin.

His view of Gentiles was that they were heathen outsiders.

He had nothing to do with them!

Then one day everything changed!

We know from Acts 9 on the road to Damascus the bright light of Jesus from heaven shining on Paul changed everything.

Paul suddenly saw the truth about Jesus.

Because he received the truth he became the Apostle Paul and he began telling everyone about Jesus, the Son of God.

Paul did an about face and his mission in life became spreading the good news about Jesus, the Son of God. Saul, now Paul was transformed and he traveled and wrote letters telling of the greatness of God and Jesus, the Son of God.

Paul knew that everyone has special gifts and has a story to tell about the greatness of God.

Everyone.

The story is about God’s love for you and for each person. Some are called to sing about it, some are called to write in various ways. Others are called to go and tell about God’s love and still others draw or paint.

If you go to an art gallery and view paintings of the masters from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance many famous paintings were done by devout painters.

The list could go on and on…God has called and millions (billions) have responded.

So…what is God calling you to?

Deborah

acrazyjourney.com