Devotional Text

Wednesday, August 11, 2021 – “Tabitha/Dorcus”

I Corinthians 12:4-11
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 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. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Last Sunday I preached on the story of Dorcus found in Acts 9:36-42. In the story, we heard how Dorcus used her ability to sew to make a difference in the lives of women in need. We also talked about what I call “the temptation of the spectacular.” The temptation of the spectacular has to do with the belief that making a real and lasting difference in this world requires more than we have to offer. Have you ever thought “what difference can I make? After all, I am just one person; I am like a drop of water in an ocean of human need. All I can do is_____.

Have you ever struggled with feeling adequate when it comes to serving in ministry? Can you give an example?
Today’s passage of scripture tells us that God has given each one of us gifts “All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses” The gifts being spoken of in the passage are abilities God has given you to be used to make a difference in the lives of others. The passage gives us examples of some of the gifts: wisdom, knowledge, optimism, healing, discernment, prophecy, etc. Of course, this is just a few of the kinds of God given abilities we have been given. More important than the list of gifts is the understanding that each and every one of us have gifts, given to us by God, for “the common good.” Dorcus was given gifts, and her gifts included being able to sew. And given that she never tired of helping people in need, she undoubtedly had the gift of mercy as well.

Spiritual gifts from God can include teaching, preaching, music, dance, writing, praying, leading worship, counseling, helping and serving, encouraging, building, crafting, and so much more.

As you think about your life, what God given gifts and abilities do you have? Don’t think of them in comparison to others, as if an ability only counts as a gift if you are the best (or at least great) at it—that is the temptation of the spectacular. Instead, just think about your life, and abilities and talents that are a part of you.

Thinking about your gifts, can you remember a time when you used your gifts/ability to do something that was helpful to another person? How did that make you feel?

Last Sunday, I ended my sermon by making the statement “The Kingdom of God is not built upon the spectacular, it is built upon people like you and me using the gifts we have, doing what we know how to do, to make a difference in the lives of others.” What does this mean to you?

Finally, how might you use the gifts God has given you to bless the life of someone else this week?

God bless you, and I will see you in church.
Pastor Dave