Vital Roles
Which of these gifts did you get?
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. - 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Surely we have heard this before, that there are gifts of the Holy Spirit, and to each is given some manifestation of the Spirit to be used for the common good. But have we ever given any thought to that fact when we encounter people out in the world?
The guy who sits in the corner all alone, drawing on his t-shirt, what gift does he have?
Or the woman with the loosely fitting dentures that get in the way when she talks, what is her gift?
If we truly believe that God gives each of us a means of serving the common good through a unique gift of the Spirit, then we should be eager to find that gift in others.
All throughout Scripture we see evidence of God's ways, choosing the least likely candidates for the job, not the best looking or the wisest or the largest.
Why would we assume that the only people who have a vital role to play in this life are the ones who appear to be the most skilled, or fit, or educated?
So, this might be an interesting exercise for today.
For each person I encounter, I will make a conscious effort to see that person as playing a vital role in God's plan, and while I may not be able to discern which gift of the Spirit he or she has, I will try to accept the possibility that it is there, fully engaged and doing His work.
If I can do that, how could I possibly be judgmental?
How could I not learn to see the value in every human being?
How could I not be filled with love for all?
More to come...