the Third Week after Easter
Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
1 Corinthians 12:1-13
Speaking of assembly meetings, the apostle gave first place to observing the Lord’s supper (11:20-34). Only then does he deal with the gifts and types of service which have edification as their objective. Let us not forget that the worship meeting is the most important of all the gatherings.
Paul reminds these former idolaters that they were once led astray by satanic spirits (v. 2). What a transformation! Now it is the Spirit of God who directs them, working in them "as he will" through the gifts which he distributes to them (v. 11). The apostle lists these gifts, emphasizing that they are given in order to be of service. And in order to illustrate both the unity of the Church and the variety of Christian service he takes the human body as an example: while it is composed of many members and organs of which none can operate without the others, yet it forms a single organism directed by one will, which the head transmits to each member. So is the body of Christ. If it is formed of many members (as many as there are believers), it is governed by one Spirit to carry out one will, that of the Lord who is the Head (Ephesians 4:15-16). It is not then up to us to choose either our activity (v. 11) or the place in which we are to exercise it (v. 18).
