Living in the Spirit

June 4, 2020

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. –1 Corinthians 12:4-11

None of us are called to do everything; all of us are called to do something. It all starts with loving God and allowing God through the Holy Spirit to show us where we are needed most in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.

I spent many years working in a male-dominated state agency that, in a study done in the 1980s, was paying women executives on average $20,000 less per year than their male counterparts who, for the most part, had fewer years of experience and less education. At the same time, I was able to advance because of a couple of male leaders who fostered my growth and development, and I am forever grateful to them. I remember in one meeting when my supervisor brought me along to present a new program that I developed to the executive committee. I was the only woman in the room and was ignored until my boss said, “Marilynn is going to have to explain that to you. I have not had time to review it all.” That was a baldfaced lie. He had given me feedback throughout the process and chose to open the door for my making the presentation.

I jokingly say that I was called to do the jobs that no one else wanted to do, which was true. The result was that I worked on a broad range of new projects, learned how to work with a diversity of people, and developed new skills I never dreamed I would gain. The Holy Spirit helps us become all that we can be and never leaves us as we strive to serve God.

We live in tumultuous times. God needs all God’s people to step up and say, “Use me where you need me.” And then go forth and do what God is calling us to do.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the enablers. Help us all to be doers of the word and enablers too. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.