Every once in a while I hear on the news regarding our economy that there is a shortage of skilled workers. Businesses are searching for people who have the skills in order to be creative and enable a business to prosper in today's competitive business climate. I wonder if we have the same mindset in the church today? Could there really be a shortage of skilled workers for the kingdom of God?
On this Pentecost Sunday, we would do well to remember that God has equipped the church with everything that is necessary for it to function - even in today's world. The church has become a powerful community through various gifts - given to each believer - in order to have the church function in bringing the kingdom to others.
The words of our reading for this Sunday are:
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 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. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses." 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 NRSV
The kinds of gifts given certainly go beyond just this list. What is important is that you recognize your giftedness! You have a role to play in God's great story involving the church. It's one thing to recognize your gift and another thing to actually be fully engaged in using it. Don't worry about what someone else has. You are a unique person created by God, and God has given to you what you can handle and have the potential for in the kingdom of God!
I hope that for this Sunday, you will meditate on these words of Scripture and can identify your giftedness. I look forward to this festival day in church and hope you will as well.
Discipleship Questions for Reflection
Do you know what your giftedness is by the Holy Spirit for the kingdom of God?
How much are you using that giftedness for the church and the world?
On this Pentecost Sunday, we would do well to remember that God has equipped the church with everything that is necessary for it to function - even in today's world. The church has become a powerful community through various gifts - given to each believer - in order to have the church function in bringing the kingdom to others.
The words of our reading for this Sunday are:
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 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. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses." 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 NRSV
The kinds of gifts given certainly go beyond just this list. What is important is that you recognize your giftedness! You have a role to play in God's great story involving the church. It's one thing to recognize your gift and another thing to actually be fully engaged in using it. Don't worry about what someone else has. You are a unique person created by God, and God has given to you what you can handle and have the potential for in the kingdom of God!
I hope that for this Sunday, you will meditate on these words of Scripture and can identify your giftedness. I look forward to this festival day in church and hope you will as well.
Discipleship Questions for Reflection
Do you know what your giftedness is by the Holy Spirit for the kingdom of God?
How much are you using that giftedness for the church and the world?
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