Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

1 Corinthians 12:11

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

Paul says that the gifts are given to each individual by the Holy Spirit, in other words, to you and to me. Each person is redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and we receive His grace to become children of God. The will of God is not for us to waste our time on earth. The Lord gave us talents and gifts. He wants to mould us into vessels He can use. As such, do not underestimate yourself and do not think that you have no gifts. May the Spirit of God help us recognize our gifts so that we can co-labor with the Holy Spirit. The truth is the gifts and the Holy Spirit always work together. Gifts are like the vessel and the Holy Spirit like the water. The water needs to flow through the vessel in order for people to receive the blessings. The gifts must work with the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, the gifts cannot function. Without gifts, the blessings of the Holy Spirit cannot reach others.

You and I need to understand that the Holy Spirit and the gifts have a very close relationship. Many people do not understand this. Someone asked, "Why doesn't the healing evangelist go to the hospital to pray for all the sick? Won't the sick at the hospital be well then?" In fact, gifts and abilities are two different things. Although the one may have the gift of the Holy Spirit, if the Holy Spirit chooses not to work at that moment, having just the vessel of the gift is useless. If the vessel of the gift is not around, although the Holy Spirit may want to bless, people do not receive the blessings. Both must be present. If the Holy Spirit chooses not to work in the hospital, the healing evangelist will not be able to do anything in the hospital. If the Holy Spirit chooses to work in the hospital, but we do not visit the hospital, the sick will not be healed either. Both must work together. When we understand this, we will not misunderstand the work of the Holy Spirit. You and I are only the vessel following the Holy Spirit in order to bring about signs and wonders, so that people may benefit from the gifts.

Pray that God will give us a proper understanding of the Holy Spirit and the gifts, and obey the Holy Spirit in exercising our own gifts. In this way, the people around you and the people you serve may receive the benefits of the gifts. May the Lord encourage us once again.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you because you were willing to give us gifts and have already given us gifts. We ask that you help us know how to exercise our gifts and work with the Holy Spirit so that your blessings may flow to the people around us and your heart may be satisfied. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!