Daily Reading Week 12
Sunday
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Discover:
Finding the right balance between unity and diversity can be a bit of a tricky challenge, but it’s absolutely vital. If we focus too much on unity, we might end up with everyone thinking the same way, missing out on the wonderful variety of strengths that make a group truly effective. On the other hand, leaning too heavily on diversity can create divisions that prevent an organization from achieving its goals. This is something we see not just in everyday life but especially within the church.
Paul offers a helpful analogy by comparing the church to the human body. Just like in a healthy body, every part—arm, leg, ear, eye, and more—has its own role and contributes to the wellbeing of the whole. The beauty of diverse members is celebrated in pursuit of a unified body. Similarly, all members of the church should recognize their gifts and see how these gifts contribute to the overall health of Christ’s body (1 Cor. 12:12–20).
In today’s passage, the Apostle goes deeper into this idea, explaining that believers need to appreciate not only their own roles but also the unique contributions of others. Just as an eye can’t tell the hand it’s unneeded in a healthy body, a teacher shouldn't dismiss someone with the gift of service (v. 21). When we start to think our own gifts are more important, we risk damaging the unity and wellness of the body.
Paul continues this analogy in verses 22–24, highlighting that even parts of the body that seem weaker are actually vital, and those that are less visible deserve special honor. He mentions internal organs, crucial for life yet unseen, and how we treat certain parts of the body with modesty in public. This means that even church members whose gifts aren’t obvious are incredibly important. For instance, imagine an elderly woman who rarely goes out but is steadfast in faith and prayer. Despite being less visible than church teachers, she is equally essential.
Ultimately, God has designed the church to foster care among its members. Recognizing everyone’s importance helps us share in each other’s joy and suffering (vv. 24–26).
John Calvin wisely remarked that nothing promotes harmony quite like this sense of shared interest, where each person feels enriched by others' success and affected by their struggles. Understanding our need for one another in our rich diversity leads to harmony. Let’s keep in mind that we can’t fulfill God’s purposes without each other.
Respond:
1. What part do you see yourself playing in the body of Christ? How can you use your unique gifts to serve others?
2. Reflect on a time when you felt disconnected from the church. What steps can you take to become more integrated into the community?
3. How can you encourage others to recognize and use their gifts within the church?
Monday
Galatians 3:26-28
Discover:
When we consider that God gave Israel the Mosaic law to show the reality of sin and to show them that they couldn’t achieve righteousness on their own, it may seem puzzling to find passages like Psalm 119:97, which express love for the Law. So, how can someone say, "Oh how I love your law" if it highlights our shortcomings?
Understanding that old covenant believers did have the Holy Spirit's influence helps clarify this. While the new covenant provides a more profound experience of the Spirit than was available before Jesus’ time (Acts 1:8), the Holy Spirit operated under the Mosaic covenant, not only to spotlight sin but also to instill faith in God's promise to declare believers righteous. This same Spirit was at work long ago, guiding people to cherish God’s holy commands.
Today, we have even more reason for gratitude as Jesus has eliminated the divisions set by the old covenant. His church is enriched with diverse cultures and gifts as we work toward God’s plan to redeem people from every nation. By being baptized into Christ, we have put on His righteousness, uniting us with Him and one another—regardless of gender, status, or ethnicity. It’s important to note that Paul isn’t implying that water baptism itself brings salvation. It is generally part of making one's faith public and symbolizes the spiritual union with Christ through faith alone. Without faith, baptism doesn’t yield its intended impact.
Some interpret Galatians 3:28 as erasing all role distinctions within the church. This misunderstanding deviates from the context, as John MacArthur explains: Paul's point is that differences in race, socioeconomic status, and gender do not equate to spiritual inequality before God. The cross brings a new perspective on these differences. As Christians, we are heirs to God's promise to Abraham before being defined by nationality, wealth, gender, or any other label.
Respond:
1. How does understanding your identity in Christ change the way you view others in the
church?
2. What barriers exist in your community that prevent unity? How can you work to overcome them?
3. In what ways can you celebrate the diversity within your church?
Tuesday
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Discover:
In 1 Corinthians 12:4–7, Paul reminds us that God the Holy Spirit blesses believers with spiritual gifts to benefit the whole church community. In today's passage, Paul highlights a variety of these gifts. Although this list might not cover every gift imaginable, it gives us a glimpse of the diversity of gifts the Spirit provides.
Verse 8 mentions "the utterance of wisdom" and "the utterance of knowledge." While distinguishing between these can be tricky, the "utterance of wisdom" might connect to Paul's earlier discussions in chapters 1–2, where he calls the crucified Christ the wisdom of God. This might mean having a unique ability to relate everything to the cross or share the gospel with special clarity. On the other hand, "the utterance of knowledge" could involve a God-given insight into Scripture or facts that one couldn’t know naturally.
In verse 9, Paul introduces the gift of faith and the "gifts of healing." Since all Christians possess saving faith, the faith Paul refers to here likely means a special kind of faith for specific missions—a remarkable degree of trust that God will move powerfully. "Gifts of healing" describe the Spirit-given capacity to heal those who are ill.
The "working of miracles" in verse 10 encompasses performing powerful supernatural acts beyond healing. The "gift of prophecy" involves revealing future events and speaking authoritatively on God's behalf, akin to the prophets of the Old Testament. The ability "to distinguish between spirits," also mentioned in verse 10, might mean being able to identify true prophecies from false ones. Additionally, the gifts of "tongues" and "interpretation of tongues" involve expressing God's revelations in a language the speaker doesn't typically know, accompanied by someone else interpreting that language.
Notably, in 12:11, the Apostle points out that the Spirit grants these gifts according to His will. God's decision regarding who receives which gifts is part of His sovereign purpose, carried out with perfect wisdom (Romans 16:27). It's important for us to appreciate the gifts we’re given and trust in His wise plans.
Respond:
1. What spiritual gifts do you believe you have been given? How are you currently using them?
2. How can you encourage others to discover and use their spiritual gifts?
3. Reflect on a time when someone else's spiritual gift blessed you. How did it impact your
faith journey?
Wednesday
Romans 12:4-8
Discover:
Throughout Scripture, we see God calling and equipping individuals for various roles and careers. Some of these roles are explicitly spiritual or religious, like when Paul was called to be an Apostle. Yet, God also called people to more secular roles, such as Joseph, whom He appointed as the prime minister of Egypt to save many from famine. This suggests that the Lord provides specific callings for everyone, not just full-time ministers but also for everyday people in various walks of life.
Discerning our calling involves identifying the gifts God has bestowed on us. An internal call is about both what we feel drawn to do and what we excel at doing. Various passages in the New Testament, such as Romans 12:1–8, indicate that God gives gifts to His people. While these gifts can serve the local church directly, there are also gifts meant for broader applications, both in and outside of a church setting. Artistic skills granted to the builders of the tabernacle in Exodus 36 are an example of abilities that can be utilized in different contexts.
What’s key to understand from Romans 12 and similar passages is the variety of gifts God provides, given according to His will and pleasure. Each person has unique gifts; not everyone possesses the same abilities, and no one has them all. This is why Paul reminds us to think of ourselves sensibly, without overestimating or underestimating our abilities. It's crucial to critically assess our skills and interests to recognize what we are genuinely capable of, instead of merely chasing what we wish we could do.
Self-examination benefits us and our neighbors because taking on roles we're not suited for can lead to unfavorable outcomes. Such introspection requires humility, so let’s strive to consider ourselves honestly, aiming to uncover our true talents and callings.
Respond:
1. How do you view your role in the church? Do you see it as significant?
2. What steps can you take to better understand and fulfill your role in the church?
3. How can you support others in their roles within the church?
Thursday
Ephesians 4:11-12
Discover:
In Christian traditions, a distinction between clergy and laity is commonly upheld, reflecting the biblical differentiation between those qualified to serve as elders and other believers (see 1 Timothy 3:1–7). While at times misunderstood, this distinction is based on function and gifting, not on importance or value within God’s plan. Both clergy and laity contribute vitally to the church's health and mission.
Christian ministry, fundamentally, is "every-member ministry," as described in Ephesians 4:12–13. God appoints evangelists, pastors, and teachers not solely to lead but to equip the saints for service, aiming to build up the body of Christ collectively. This interpretation highlights that church leaders equip believers for ministry, which collectively strengthens and matures Christ’s body, the church.
Paul envisions a corporate maturity, where individual growth in Christ fosters communal advancement. Each believer’s development in grace and knowledge serves the collective purpose of shaping a congregation that reflects the glorified image of Christ. While challenging, achieving this goal is enabled by the fullness of Jesus already present among us. However, until Christ returns, the church must continually strive for complete conformity to His perfection. During this time between Christ’s first and second comings, believers nurture and build each other up, finding and fulfilling their unique roles within the church.
The pursuit of maturity in the body of Christ emphasizes collaboration and mutual ministry. Each Christian has a distinct part to play, ensuring that the church grows stronger in its faith and unity. As we grow individually, we contribute to the collective maturity, working together to become a community that reflects Christ’s glory more fully with each passing day.
Respond:
1. In what ways do I actively contribute to the ministry and growth of the church community, utilizing the unique gifts and talents I have been given?
2. How do I perceive the distinction between clergy and laity, and do I hold any misconceptions about the roles and importance of each within God’s plan for the church?
3. What steps can I take to further my spiritual maturity and, in turn, help build up the collective maturity of the church, aligning both my individual growth and communal contributions with the image of Christ?
Friday
1 Peter 4:8-11
Discover:
It's unfortunate, but sometimes when we look at the Christian church, we see that believers don't always show love to each other as they should. The many different denominations are a testament to this. While many were created to protect the Gospel's purity, others sprang up because people couldn’t lovingly handle disagreements over non-essential issues. Even today, small matters can escalate, and hurtful words can be exchanged across denominational lines among those who should be united in faith.
More concerning is that even within the same church, believers can struggle to show love. How often do we find ourselves feeling indifferent or annoyed with fellow members just because they have their quirks or aren’t as far along in their spiritual journey as we’d like them to be?
Today’s passage reminds us that this isn’t how it’s supposed to be. Peter encourages us to love one another deeply. He’s mentioned this before as a way to stand firm in faith. Now, he emphasizes it because "love covers a multitude of sins" (4:8).
It's important to understand that Peter isn’t suggesting our love atones for sin. Instead, he acknowledges that we’ll face various challenges with others and that offering forgiveness and support is impossible without sincere love. If we don’t love earnestly, we won't have the strength to stand firm during the tough times Peter talks about in his letter.
God initiates and secures our ultimate salvation, but He also works through secondary means, like the love we show one another, to help us remain steadfast in faith. So, let's eagerly love everyone in our churches, even those we find difficult. In 4:9, he suggests that one way to do this is through hospitality, without complaining. By opening our homes and sharing our lives, we can be God’s instruments of encouragement and strength for others.
Respond:
1. How can you practice hospitality and service in your daily life?
2. What are some practical ways you can use your gifts to serve others in your church or community?
3. Reflect on how serving others can bring glory to God.
Saturday
Colossians 3:12-17
Discover:
Continuing his discussion on what the new humanity in Christ should embody, Paul highlights the chief virtue we must exhibit: love. How could it be anything else when Scripture emphasizes love so strongly? God's very essence is love (see 1 John 4:8), and our love for others is how the world will know we belong to Jesus we are told by the Apostle John in the 13th chapter of his gospel. Thus, love is the most important virtue for Christians.
Love is fundamental because it propels the kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness we're called to practice. Genuine forgiveness—choosing not to harbor resentment and committing not to dwell on an offender's wrongs—is only possible through love. It was love that compelled the triune God to forgive humanity and reconcile us to Him. If love motivated God's forgiveness, it's the same love that enables us to truly forgive others.
Virtues like kindness, meekness, and patience are praiseworthy only when they reflect the heart's true disposition. It's possible to show kindness or patience outwardly while harboring negative feelings inwardly, but love ensures our outward and inward virtues align. John Chrysostom wisely notes, “Whatever good thing it is that you mention, if love be absent, it is nothing, it melts away. Whatever good our deeds possess will vanish completely if they lack love.”
Respond:
1. How can you cultivate the qualities of compassion, kindness, and humility in your
interactions with others?
2. What role does forgiveness play in maintaining unity within the church?
3. How can you practice gratitude in your daily life and within your church community?