To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. — 1 Corinthians 12:7.
We are all blessed with unique gifts, but it would be a mistake to assume we are owed or entitled to these manifestations. It would be an even greater mistake to believe they are not meant to be shared. Whatever our life’s circumstances, the text calls us to use our blessings—our inherent abilities, talents, and unique insights—for the benefit of all we meet and know, and for all that may come after us.
It’s fascinating to realize that 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 actually delineates nine specific manifestations: words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working miracles, prophecy, discerning spirits, diverse kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues.
While few of us may witness the extraordinary gifts like tongues or miracles, we certainly encounter the steady, foundational ones every day. We all have known wise and faithful people whose presence elevates everyone around them. It would indeed be a tragedy if these individuals kept their gifts of steadfast wisdom and knowledge locked away.
Ultimately, the purpose is singular: the common good. Recognizing that the divine distribution includes both the spectacular and the practical shifts our focus. The true wonder is not found in the flashiest deed, but in the committed, daily use of our simplest strengths—our kindness, our insight, or our patience—to consistently build up the community around us. That is the lasting, quiet miracle by which the common good is realized.
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