Basic HTML Version
Used as a Power for God, July 4
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another
the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:7, 8
.
One worker may be a ready speaker; another a ready writer; another may
have the gift of sincere, earnest, fervent prayer; another the gift of singing;
another may have special power to explain the Word of God with clearness.
And each gift is to become a power for God because He works with the
laborer. To one God gives the word of wisdom, to another knowledge, to
another faith; but all are to work under the same Head. The diversity of gifts
leads to a diversity of operations, but “it is the same God which worketh all
in all” (
1 Corinthians 12:6
).
The Lord desires His chosen servants to learn how to unite together in
harmonious effort. It may seem to some that the contrast between their
gifts and the gifts of a fellow laborer is too great to allow them to unite
in harmonious effort; but when they remember that there are varied minds
to be reached, and that some will reject the truth as it is presented by one
laborer, only to open their hearts to God’s truth as it is presented in a different
manner by another laborer, they will hopefully endeavor to labor together in
unity. Their talents, however diverse, may all be under the control of the same
Spirit. In every word and act, kindness and love will be revealed; and as each
worker fills his appointed place faithfully, the prayer of Christ for the unity of
His followers will be answered, and the world will know that these are His
disciples.
In loving sympathy and confidence God’s workers are to unite with one
another. He who says or does anything that tends to separate the members
of Christ’s church is counterworking the Lord’s purpose. Wrangling and
dissension in the church, the encouragement of suspicion and unbelief, are
dishonoring to Christ. God desires His servants to cultivate Christian affection
for one another.—
Testimonies for the Church 9:144, 145
.
[195]
201