Great Plains Daily Devotional for 1/14/19

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, 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.

Yesterday was Baptism of the Lord Sunday.  Many churches did a remember your baptism service.  I did and had the honor of baptizing a new child into the family of Christ.  In preparation, I thought a lot about what baptism is about: death, new life, forgiveness, hope, transformation and love.  It is about being a child of God, and claiming Jesus Christ being our Lord and Savior and it is glorious. 

That was yesterday.  Today is the Monday after Baptism of the Lord Sunday.  So, what happens today?  We all go back to life as usual. We go back to work, family, time with friends, watching tv, hobbies, and all the activities that make up our day.  Hopefully, during all that we do, we go back to the world and we love.  We show value for each other and we discover ways to transform the world with that love.  How is this possible? 

We go back into the world, with the Spirit of Christ.  This is the same Spirit that claimed Jesus as God’s beloved son.  The same Spirit that claims us and gives us amazing gifts like those shared in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.  Gifts that allow us on Sunday to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Then allow us to love, offer healing, hope, wisdom, knowledge, and all the gifts that allow us to be open and vulnerable to those around us.  Gifts that allow us to let others know of their worth, too.  You beloved child of God, you now get to go into the world and let others know they are a beloved child of God too.  Just remember, you don’t go alone, you go with the Spirit. 

So, what are you waiting for?  Get going!  The Spirit is ready, are you?

Prayer for Reflection

Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22