DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 2:
WORD OF WISDOM
Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without the
wind, branches without sap, and like coals without fire.
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DAILY DEVOTION
The Good Tidings
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born
this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this
shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger.
Luke 2:10-12
Though Christmas should be a happy and blessed time as we celebrate the gift
of God's Son, it often becomes a hectic and frantic time as every minute is
filled with shopping, parties, travel and extra work. The poet and humorist
Ogden Nash wrote, "Christmas was once the season of peace and good will; Now
it's the holiday it's so many shopping days left until."
It is a tragedy if we lose sight of the simple and vital message that is at
the heart of this special time of year. The point is not getting the most
packages under the tree or impressing the neighbors with our display of
Christmas lights. The point is that we are celebrating the coming of the
Saviour-the greatest gift that ever has or ever could be given. Christmas is
not a commercial invention designed to sell things, but instead a spiritual
celebration.
The fact that God loved us enough to give His Son for our salvation should
be at the center of our thoughts and activities at Christmas. The meaning of
the season cannot be found anywhere but in the message the angels brought to
the shepherds that night near Bethlehem. And as we celebrate, we should also
do what the shepherds did when they returned from seeing Jesus in the
manger-tell others what we have heard and seen. This is a wonderful time of
year to share the Gospel with family and friends and remind them that the
Saviour has come.
Do not allow the hectic pace of the Christmas season to make you forget the
Gift we are celebrating.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
1 Corinthians 12-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity
12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be
ignorant: 2 You know that[a] you were Gentiles, carried away to these
dumb[b] idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no
one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus [c]accursed, and no one can
say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are [d]diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are
differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of
activities, but it is the same God who works [e]all in all. 7 But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8
for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the
word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same
Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [f]the same Spirit, 10 to another
the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of
spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these
things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Unity and Diversity in One Body
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that
one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit
we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or
free-and have all been made to drink [g]into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the
body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,"
is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am
not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If
the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were
hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members,
each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all
one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye
cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the
feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body
which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body
which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and
our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts
have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that
part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no [h]schism in the body, but
that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one
member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored,
all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has
appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third
teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have
gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But
earnestly desire the [i]best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
The Greatest Gift
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,
I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the
gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though
I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I
give my body [j]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade
itself, is not [k]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its
own, is not provoked, [l]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but
rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;
whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it
will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when
that which is [m]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done
away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in
part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these
is love.
Prophecy and Tongues
14 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may
prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God,
for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies
the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you
prophesied; [n]for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with
tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive
edification.
Tongues Must Be Interpreted
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I
profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by
prophesying, or by teaching? 7 Even things without life, whether flute or
harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds,
how will it be known what is piped or played? 8 For if the trumpet makes an
uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So likewise you, unless you
utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is
spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so
many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without
[o]significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language,
I shall be a [p]foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a
foreigner to me. 12 Even so you, since you are [q]zealous for spiritual
gifts, let it be for the [r]edification of the church that you seek to
excel.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is
unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and
I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I
will also sing with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the
spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at
your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you
indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 yet in the
church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may
teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers
20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be
babes, but in understanding be mature.
21 In the law it is written:
"With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,"
says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to
unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who
believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and
all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or
unbelievers, will they not say that you are [s]out of your mind? 24 But if
all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is
convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 [t]And thus the secrets of his
heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God
and report that God is truly among you.
Order in Church Meetings
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a
psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an
interpretation. Let all things be done for [u]edification. 27 If anyone
speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and
let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in
church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three
prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to
another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy
one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits
of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of
[v]confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34 Let [w]your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted
to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if
they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for
it is shameful for women to speak in church.
36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that
it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let
him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of
the Lord. 38 But [x]if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to
speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
