(1 Corinthians 12:7-9 NASB) - Kingdom Gifts

(1 Corinthians 12:7-9 NASB) "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,"

(Matthew 7:22-23 NASB) "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'"

In one of my early devotionals I shared some of the struggles I had getting my mind around what it means to be a child of Jesus. I heard of the many blessings and gifts that were bestowed on me when I became His child, but I just couldn't get an understanding of how all of this would become available to me...........how I could use these gifts.

My mind lacked maturity..............not in the sense of knowing the things of this world, but in the sense of knowing what it meant, knowing what it means to be a child of the King. And adding to my lack of progress in learning about my new responsibilities as a Christian, I was exposed to some teaching that lead me to believe that I could have *anything*...............wealth, fame, influence...........if I only called upon the Lord for it.

Well, after getting frustrated by my seeming lack of progress on acquiring some of these things that I was told were there for the asking..........I grew up a little. And by becoming more mature in my faith and by building a strong relationship with the Lord, I began to realize that just about everything I was asking for had little to do with advancing the Work of the Kingdom and a whole bunch to do with advancing my particular agenda.

Brother Paul has reminded me again that the Lord has gifted me with those things which will benefit the Kingdom's Work.....not necessarily me. My struggle now is not to "get it right" so that I can have what *I* want, but to understand what the Lord has given me and how He wants me to use it. And, yes, that may mean and probably does mean there may be little to benefit me in this life.............but the majority of my benefits will be in the next......when He says to me....."Well done good and faithful slave." (Matthew 25:23 NASB)

Love in Jesus,

Jim

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"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB)

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."

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This devotional was originally posted on CCI-Devo - Daily Group Devotionals on December 17, 2004 in post #721. It was written by Jim Ross, a former United Pentecostal Church member, who attends Christian Challenge International, the sponsor of the devotional group. The devotional is the copyright of Jim Ross and is reprinted on this site by permission.

Page added May 15, 2005

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