Spirit Gifts for a Reason

One of the most divisive spiritual gifts discussed over the years is the gift of speaking in tongues. Some believers are uncomfortable discussing or even being around people when they are speaking in tongues. Others, on the other hand, believe that tongues are an essential sign of a person's salvation. I can understand both perspectives. After all, the Apostles spoke in tongues on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out on all who would receive.

Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:9-12 NIV)
The tongue-speaking that day freaked people out as well. It even messed with the ones doing the speaking. At the same time, it was essential for God's message to get out that day. You see, people were in town for a Jewish festival of Pentecost and they spoke many different languages. The Apostles were not scholars who knew these different languages and God wanted all these people to learn that Jesus was the Messiah they had been looking for. So, God's Spirit gave them the ability to speak in languages they had never learned. Then they told all the out of town visitors about Jesus in the visitors' own languages.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NIV)

I'd like to ask you to notice two things in this passage. Look at the first sentence and let it remind you of both. First, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to "each one." As people who believe that Jesus is the Christ and and asked him to be Lord of our lives, we are each given the manifestation of the Spirit. We are given a Holy Spirit gift. Think about that. Pray about it. What Spirit gift have you been given?

Secondly, notice this: the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. In other words, you were given a gift (or more than one gift) for a reason. Our Spirit gifts will always give glory to God. Our Spirit gifts will always point people to Christ. Our Spirit Gifts will always be used in unity with the Body of Christ. Our spirit Gifts will always have a God-intended purpose. Our Spirit gifts are given for the common good.

How about you? Do you know what gift or gifts the Spirit has given you? Do you know the reason? Are you using it (them) for the common good?