April 9, 2020
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
New International Version (NIV)
                On a subway wall a person wrote in graffiti, “Life is just one contradiction after another.”  Someone responded below, “No.  It is not.”  Is it just me, or does this time of confinement increase our likelihood of wanting to argue and prove others wrong?  This polarization is not new.  For some time now, proving others wrong has become something of a national pastime.   It shows up in politics and on the news.  Social media is its own battleground for many.  Blogs are notorious.  The game is to say something extreme, get somebody to disagree and then prove them wrong. 

                The church in Corinth was probably not a large church, but it was full of disagreements.  As a reminder:  they disagreed about who the best leaders were, about whether immorality was wrong, about taking each other to court, about getting married or staying single, about eating food sacrificed to idols, about their rights as Christians and even about taking the Lord’s Supper.  What was God’s answer to all of this gamesmanship?  He gave the church his Holy Spirit to produce in them and us love for God and each other.

                Paul told the Corinthians that each of them had received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is generous with the church, giving good gifts to each.  Paul says the purpose of the Holy Spirit’s gifts is to build each other up in the common good.  God gives wisdom, knowledge, faith and other gifts not to divide us but to unite us in Christ.  I have checked all of the lists of spiritual gifts in the scriptures.  Being argumentative is not a gift.  The need and the ability to prove others wrong is not a manifestation of the Spirit but of the flesh. 

                Paul goes on to argue that all of the gifts are important to the functioning of the church, just as all parts of the body are essential.  If one suffers, all suffer.  Just the other day I discovered that the metal edge of the aluminum foil container is most effective at cutting thumbs as well.  Who knew?  My whole body was offended at the blood pouring out of my thumb.  Frequently this week I have winced as I have been reminded how much I need my thumb.

               Some time soon you and I will be offended by something somebody says somewhere.  In righteous indignation we will be tempted to give those people a piece of our mind.  We will want to prove our superior knowledge (seminary graduates are particularly susceptible to this in my experience).  We will become even more convinced that we are right as we eviscerate others with our great logic.  We will win the game.  And the whole body of Christ will lose.  Because that game is a sad game.  And saddest of all are those who excel at it.  Why?   Because it is not God’s game.  To be good at it we use human knowledge in the power of the flesh and think it is from God.  We don’t have to prove others wrong.  But we do need to love.  

Pray with me:         
Father, you have given us the mind of Christ.  Forgive us for confusing it with natural reason.  Enlighten us with your love, lest we become products of the Enlightenment using the scripture as a sword to lacerate others.  May your Spirit of Love stir up in us your good gifts to build others up and not to tear them down.  If we are actually right about something, God give us the grace to be humble, for the sake of others, for our own sake and for God’s sake.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen. 
Join us in memorizing the Word.  Scripture for this week:    
Matthew 5:29-30
If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG 
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week.  In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.  
Joyfully, 
Duane 

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