ICS Daily Devotions
Love is the Key
We are all blessed with supernatural gifts given to us by our supernatural God. These spiritual gifts give us our purposes, and are meant to serve God and be His channels of blessings to those people whom He wants us to minister with our spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
While each one of us is blessed with various combinations of spiritual gifts, the key to activate and administer them is the same, love.
Love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Love is the foundation for everything we do for God.
1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done with love.
In order for us to effectively employ our spiritual gifts and minister to His people, we need to reflect God’s love to us. Without love, our use of these spiritual gifts is meaningless and self-serving, and may become our sources of pride and arrogance.
Corinthians 13:1-4 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not [a]love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body [b]to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.
Our spiritual maturity is about the fruit of the Holy Spirit rather than the anointing to carry out the work of the Holy Spirit. The sign of spiritual maturity is the ability to walk in love toward God and His people, because love is eternal and will outlast all spiritual gifts.
Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.
Sermon Series: Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow
