Ordinary Time

Pause

The Spirit of God comforts, calls, and challenges.

You are comforted in moments when God seems hidden. You are called to share the gifts the Spirit reveals to you. You are challenged to be the presence of Christ in all you do, all you say, and in who you are.

Be open to the Spirit’s comfort and challenges now in these next quiet moments.

Listen

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.

1 Corinthians 12:8–11

Think

Can you imagine what school would be like if everyone there was a cheerleader? How crazy would church be if everyone was a youth minister? How interesting would a concert be if every musician was a bass player? Paul knew that the people of Corinth all had gifts and that each of those gifts would be critical to the success of the church.

To realize your gifts and how God calls you to be a part of the Kingdom means not only knowing who you are, but accepting who you are not. Even more important is to be okay with not being the best at everything. It is unrealistic to think that you can be great at everything, but you can be great at what God has gifted you to be. Maybe you cannot play an instrument. Maybe listening to someone share a problem and sharing in their pain is what you do well. Maybe you cannot speak publicly. Maybe you can write poems that move the souls of those who read them. The Spirit has chosen you; do you choose to be used by God?

Brian Foreman

Pray

God of mercy, please help me discern how you want me to contribute to the Kingdom. I need you to help me add my gifts in a way that complements others around me. Amen.

Go

As the Spirit comforts you, give comfort to others. As the Spirit calls you, respond with your gifts. As the Spirit challenges, be the loving presence of God to the world around you.