Corinthians 12: 3 “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
Dear God,
Lift me up, my Saviour, so that I will continue to give thanks and praise for Your continuing love and mercy in my life and as expressed in Your holy word. Psalm 119: 25, 28 “My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.” “My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.”
Thank You also for the writings of Paul that remind me, that the Holy Spirit leads me to Christ, and it is the Holy Spirit, that gives each of us different gifts, that when put together, all are essential to the functioning of the body of every church or group. As with our own physical body, when one part of the group malfunctions, the whole body feels the lack of function. When I am filled with love, life is pleasant and my whole body function is improved, and so for the church or group body, when each person is filled with Your love and the Holy Spirit, then the whole function of the group or congregation as a whole is improved. Alternatively, when some people are filled with Your love and some are not, it is noticeable that these people parts are not in harmony with the whole. 1 Corinthians 12: 26 “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”
Forgive me and members of our church congregation, for any indifference toward the contributions of another individual. But then again maybe we do not all pray individually and together for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, so we can be gifted individually and corporately by the Spirit? Or worse yet, is it possible that we are in danger of being comfortable with how we are, and do not recognize our lack or sinfulness? Therefore Jesus cannot cover such a one with His righteousness,preparing the way for the Holy Spirit to come; as it did for the early church of Acts. These are serious thoughts that are raised by Paul in his writing that came out of his experience.
It is apparent that when I have the Holy Spirit directing me, I will love each church member, and acknowledge their spiritual gifts, as well as not pass judgement on anothers’ relationship with Jesus.
In Your wisdom, dear Jesus and on receipt of Your gift of the Holy Spirit, I invite You to have my heart, and allow myself to be led, as I put my will in Yours. At Your invitation and example, I will earnestly remember to pray for myself and all fellow church congregation members that You, Jesus will live out Your purpose within each soul. As I will for many family members, friends and acquaintances. Today, I give praise and thanks for them all!
Amen