Silence: Find a quiet place, remove potential distractions, clear your mind of other thoughts, and ask God to speak to you as you read and contemplate this passage:

Reflective Reading: Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-12 thoughtfully:

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 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. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

Meditation: Reflect on this message from Paul to one of the churches that he started on his second mission trip. What is God speaking to you through this exchange? How significant is Paul’s statement that ‘to each one…is given’?

Oration: From your reading and prayer, verbalize or write in the space below your response to what God is speaking to you from this passage:

Contemplation: Over the next day, contemplate this passage and what God is saying to you. Think on these topics:

• Paul states that to each one (everyone) is given ‘the manifestation of the spirit’ (spiritual gifts). Have you ever systematically explored how God has gifted you? How do you feel you are gifted?
• Paul also clarifies that we are gifted ‘for the common good’ in Christ’s body. Another way of saying this is that He’s equipped us for His purpose, not necessarily for our purposes. Have you ever systematically explored how God wants you to work ‘for the common good’ of Christ’s body?
• Have you ever gotten up from sitting or lying awkwardly for an extended period, and your legs had gone to sleep and you couldn’t walk. Have you ever considered that First Baptist – Rock Hill may be like this if everyone is not doing their part in the body?
• What actions or attitudes might this passage be directing you to begin?