Gratiae | Gifts

Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. - 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6

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Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, focus verses 4-6 & 11 and my faith journey. As a young convert, I used to be upset that I couldn't hear God's voice and didn't receive the Gift of Tongues. With a wrong theology that this Gift was the one and only greatest gift that was given to believers to pray over one another. However, as I progressed in my faith journey, I slowly began to comprehend that the Gift of Tongues was only one of many Gifts that the Holy Spirit imparts unto believers. The ultimate aim of these gifts were to be used in the service of others and God was the One who solely determined what and when each person shall receive his/her Gift(s) of the Holy Spirit. 

Through the process of waiting upon Him, I've also learned that the greatest gift is the Gift of Love, my own love for God and being able to share His love with others around me. Each of the Holy Spirit's Gift was a means to show God's love to His Body, whether it's in the healing, prophetic, teaching or hospitality ministries. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 we read: "So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."  Also as St Paul wrote in Romans 5:8 - But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

I'll close my short sharing with this beautiful worship song about God's Love:  "How He Loves Us" 

How He Loves Us – Kim Walker-Smith 

Verse 1 

He is jealous for me 

Loves like a hurricane 

I am a tree bending beneath 

The weight of His wind and mercy 

When all of a sudden 

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory

And I realize just how beautiful You are

And how great Your affections are for me 

Chorus 

And oh how He loves us 

Oh, oh how He loves us 

How He loves us 

Pre-Chorus 

And He is jealous for me 

Loves like a hurricane 

I am a tree bending beneath 

The weight of His wind and mercy 

When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory 

And I realize just how beautiful You are 

And how great Your affections are for me 

Chorus 

And oh how He loves us 

Oh, oh how He loves us 

How He loves us 

Post-Chorus 

Yeah, He loves us 

Oh, how He loves us 

Oh, how He loves us 

Oh, how He love 

Bridge 

And we are His portion 

And He is our prize 

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes 

If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking 

When heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss 

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest 

I don't have time to maintain these regrets 

When I think about the way that He loves us 

(Repeat Chorus x3)

Link: Youtube: https://youtu.be/XjgSMNYy2RI?si=Qwb6KInOLqIDdRgi
Title: How He Loves Us

Singer: Kim Walker 

Writers: John Mark McMillan/David Crowder 

Copyright: 2005 Integrity's Hosanna!

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 by Chris Tan