Together in Christ: 'The Same Spirit' — 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Saturday, June 29, 2024

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
— 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NLT

Key Thought

Christians in Corinth turned using their spiritual gifts into a reason for personal boasting. [1] They based their self-importance on the gift they had been given. Then, they compared their gift with others' gifts, elevating and diminishing the importance of others based on their gift. [2] Some even suggested that everyone needed a specific gift to prove they were truly spiritual. [3] Paul made clear in his letter to the Corinthians that their bickering, comparing, and boasting was wrong and worldly, [4] not spiritual.

Both Paul and Peter insisted that each of us has a gift from the Spirit. [5] The gifts differ, and those gifts are given based on the will and design of God — Father, Son, and Spirit. [6] We do not all have the same gift, and we must not elevate one gift above another. We must not require a specific gift as necessary to be considered spiritual or a follower of Jesus. [7] The same Holy Spirit, in each believer, is the One who gives the respective gifts to people. We need these different gifts in the body of Christ so that each of us will use our gifts to bless others. [8] We seek to use our gift to build up the body of Christ so that it functions as Jesus' ministering presence in the world.

After his extensive discussion of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul says that love is more important than any of the gifts and then, in another place, made it clear that love comes from the Spirit. [9]

Let's rejoice in the diversity of gifts the Spirit gives us. The same Spirit gives the different gifts so God can do His work in all of us. Let's affirm each other in the use of our gifts and praise God for how He uses each of us to do the work of Jesus!

[1] 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, 4:6-7, 5:6, 13:3-4. See also Romans 14:3.
[2] 1 Corinthians 4:6-7, 12:14-21. See also Romans 12:3.
[3] 1 Corinthians 12:29-30. See also Romans 12:4-5.
[4] 1 Corinthians 3:1. See also James 3:5-6, 4:16.
[5] Ephesians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Corinthians 12:17; Romans 12:4-5.
[6] 1 Corinthians 12:8, 11; Romans 12:6-7, Ephesians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10.
[7] 1 Corinthians 12:7, 14-26, 29-30.
[8] 1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:12; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10.
[9] 1 Corinthians 12:29-31, 13:1-3; Galatians 5:22-23.

Today's Prayer

Father, thank You for the diversity of Your gifts given to people in the body of Christ. I praise You for the Spirit's power revealed in all of us, Your children, who appear to be ordinary people but whom the Spirit makes into extraordinary parts of Jesus' body. Please help me, and help us, to value each other and not use gifts to elevate Your children in our churches or to exclude them. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Romans 12:6-13; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 13:1-13
  • Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11

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Illustration

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NLT — There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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