Daily Devotion 10/17/18
1 Corinthians 12:15-20 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
A big temptation for all of us is to look at other people’s gifts and say, “I’m not as talented as they are. They have more prominent gifts.” Envy and discontent creep in. We become self-conscious because we aren’t as good at some things as others are. We sometimes figure there isn’t anything beneficial for us to contribute. So what do we do? We stick to our clique where we feel comfortable. Sometimes that attitude can keep us from fruitful relationships, or even from church at all! When we act like this, what do we do? We cause divisions. No longer are we united as the body of Christ.
Praise God for Jesus! Praise him for the forgiveness that we have through Jesus. Praise him for his patience with us. Praise him that he still has a spot for us in his body and a use for the gifts that he has given to each of us. Today, instead of focusing on the gifts you don’t have, give thanks to God for the gifts that he has given you.
Lord Jesus, thank you for your patience with me. Forgive me for being ungrateful. Thank you for your forgiveness that forgives me even for the times that I’m ungrateful for the gifts you’ve given to me. Instead of focusing on what you haven’t given me, help me to give thanks for what I have and for what you’ve given to others. I trust in your forgiveness and that you’ve given all of us the gifts that you want us to have for the good of your kingdom. Amen.