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The Celtics And A Variety of 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.

I am a Celtics fan.

That's probably the result of having three parishes in Vermont.

One of my prayers is attending a Celtics game in Boston with a picture taken alongside a starting player. 

I'm not well informed about plays and rules, but I've learned some players are more gifted in one position than another.

I also realize the coach takes advantage of those gifts and utilizes a player in a position as needed.

With a variety of gifts, some players are rotated off the court while others are rotated on.

When playing together as a team and utilized well by the coach, the game goes well.

When they don't, it doesn't 

Gifts of the Spirit are like this. 

In the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul faced an issue about gifts of the Spirit. 

Apparently, the house churches had plenty of people imagining the gift brought was more to the life of their church.

This resulted in debates about whose gift was best. 

Paul addresses this debate explaining the Spirit that unifies the church.

Because the Spirit activates each persons' gifts, Paul says, no gift is better gift than another's. 

It's the Spirit, Paul says, that determines each gifts value.

The importance is recognizing the gift and knowing how to use it.

Since all gifts are given by the Spirit, and there are many different gifts, unique, personal gifts matter. 

For example, if you have the gift of wisdom, recognize it in you and learn how to use it.

What the Corinthian church needed to do, Paul says, is concentrate on how to use each gift to build and unite the Body of Christ.

It seems to me that, in the times in which we live, discovering and using our gifts to build up the Body of Christ, is of utmost importance!!!

Think about it: What spiritual gifts have you encountered? Does this list in 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 include them all?

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