Today’s scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Ernest Disney-Britton):
When he was a small kid, my friend Evan was that talkative kid in the class asking questions and challenging the answers. Today, he is the leader of a national movement that is making the freedom to marry available to every same-sex couple in every state across the country. What if Evan, the kid, had listened to those who told him to restrain himself? What if he’d listened when ordered not to question so much? What if he’d listened when reprimanded for challenging traditions?
Instead of feeling restrained, Evan’s gift was nurtured; and today we are all benefiting from a gift once viewed by some as a flaw. When I read 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11, I could not help thinking of all the adults and children who are punished daily for living out the truth of their gifts. In 1 Corinthians 12:1, we read that wordsmithing is a gift; wisdom is a gift; knowledge is a gift; healing is a gift; performing miracles, big and small, is a gift. Prophecy is also a gift, and there are more. Too often, we read this Bible passage to focus narrowly on just those things that are happening inside the church; but when we do this, we restrict God’s ability to work through us to change all our surroundings. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “If it falls to your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music . . . Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.” That’s how you embrace your gift.
Thought for the day: God has given us all gifts. Embrace yours.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.