4-11 God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:
wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues.
All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when. (! Corinthians 12, The Message)
“Various gifts,” “various ministries,” “various expressions of power,” are words we read as Paul continues to talk about the spiritual gifts that are given to all Christians. As young adults we wanted to identify our “gifts” that seemed to be similar to our talents and which seem to promise a satisfying future of fulfillment to our young minds. Paul however, I note, grounds gifting not in our satisfaction but in God’s glorification. All gifts start with God and express God. “The variety is wonderful” because our God expresses himself in variety, in the variety of colors of people, in the variety of colors of flowers and trees, in the variety of animals and just plain variety.
So again, it seems like the question that challenges us is how we best express God, not ourselves. Paul says we are each given something to do that shows who God is. What is God giving you to do today that will express him? That might be as simple as loving that difficult neighbor or distressed child or forgetful parent. Our heart might be moved to shares cookies with someone or smile at a stranger. Sometimes we might find ourselves saying wise words and thanking God for giving them to us but likewise when we utter simple words like “thank you” and “please” we might also be representing God. I do not want to eliminate opportunities to speak truth to power or the unwelcome task of reprimanding someone doing wrong. These can be “God moments” also.
It is easy to think of “gifted people” as someone who might win American Idol or who might be elected president of your group. I would challenge us to think of gifts as common opportunities we will have today to express who God is. Blessings as you bless others today so that they see God.
On the Way to Wonder 