“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Writing to the Corinthians, Paul was dealing with a church in turmoil. The website called “Family Times” gives these comments concerning today’s verse: “Paul continues his discussion of the subject of irregularities in the worship of the Corinthian church. There was a self-indulgent spirit in the area of spiritual gifts that produced selfishness, disunity and apparent chaos in the assembly (12:7,25). Unfortunately, the members were grieving the Holy Spirit by the carnal ways in which they were using spiritual gifts.”
Obviously, what they were doing with their spiritual gifts produced no evidence of good. Our spiritual gifts should always build up one another in the church. Using them in the right way will always profit the whole body of believers. It all boils down to this: Are we using our gifts for our own glory or for God’s glory? If the latter is true, we won’t be guilty of grieving the Spirit.
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 4 of 40 days of Prayer and Fasting with International Missions. Ask God to renew marriages and families within your church. Pray for greater commitment to loving and honoring one another within marriages. Ask God to heal fractured relationships and to restore families. Pray children will resist ungodly influences.
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:18-21).
