Thursday, June 17th
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Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4
The past few weeks I have found myself on a picket line protesting logging of old growth forest in the name of Creation Care Team - St. Stephen’s. Taking action to speak up on the behalf of God’s creation as a follower of Jesus. It felt both right and good to be there as a Christian speaking out on behalf of creation that can’t speak for itself. Not protesting logging, as I explained to a woman, but the logging of old growth, now an endangered species because with so little left worldwide, when it is gone it is gone.
I asked my self WWJD? Jesus healed, prophesized, ministered, taught, prayed, and also spoke up and defended the marginalized, challenged authority to change laws, and as Son of God gave his life to restore and reconcile all of creation with himself and God.
“There are different gifts, but the same Spirit,” Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians (12:4). Then he goes on to list a few of the gifts he saw around him: “wisdom in discourse, power to express knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy...”(1 Cor. 12:8-10. In his letter to the Romans (12: 3-8 ) Paul again says, “ in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function….we have gifts that differ” and again he lists some gifts he sees around him: “prophecy, ministering, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, compassion…”
As the body of Christ our gifts are many and different, but as Paul reminds us, we have different gifts but the same spirit. “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.” Paul was saying to them, “Yes, you are different—each of you! But that is exactly the way it should be!”
At Pentecost we heard the word of Paul from Acts 2:17: “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
What are the gifts that God’s spirit has poured into you? What are gifts that God has poured into others around you, your spouse, your children, your neighbour, your friend? To other members of St. Stephen’s? Celebrate and cherish the many gifts of the spirit, together we are the body of Christ.
A prayer of thanksgiving:
Loving God, thank you that every good and perfect gift comes from you.
Thank you for the gift of life today.
Let me be rooted and established in you,
overflowing with thankfulness
for the blessings you have poured into my life.
May I rejoice in the generosity you have shown me throughout my life.
May I praise you for the rest of my days.
You are able to do far more abundantly than all that I ask or imagine,
according to the power at work within me.
Thank you for the gift of all creation.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.