D21

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of
your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of
all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every
one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of
Christ." Ephesians 4:4-7

Let us always be reminded that a gift always comes from someone else ~
and that the giver of every gift is God. There is never any room for
pride in our accomplishments.

God always comes as One who gives. When the Holy Spirit comes through
God's Word and the sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Supper, He gives
us faith. Then He gives us special abilities through which He will
reveal His presence. The requirement made of us is that we remember that
our spiritual gifts are always gifts. We either use them to the credit
of the Giver, or we throw them away in proud and selfish living.

Since it is God who does the giving, we must also remember that He does
not give the same gifts to everyone. Therefore we should not expect
everyone to have the same gifts. When people forget that the same
variety of gifts exist in our church today, that is when division and
criticism arise. But when they remember that there is but one Spirit who
gives to all of us as He wills, then the church remains one. Above all,
we must never forget that God gave the greatest gift in Jesus, our
Savior.

What God sends is better than what we ask for! God Bless You.