The First and Primary Gift of the Spirit

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

When you think of supernatural gifts, you probably picture the spectacular, such as healing of the sick, special miracles, or other amazing exhibits of supernatural acts. However, none of these are the most important or the primary spiritual gift by which all the others operate.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Paul talked about speaking in tongues, prophesying, understanding mysteries, possessing all knowledge, and exercising great faith, yet, he said that without love, none of these abilities would be possible.

Even the most remarkable displays of spiritual power have no point if they are not specifically motivated by God’s love for others.

Operating in love is not optional for true Christians. Accepting God’s love and showing it to others is the foundational principle that allows all spiritual gifts and expressions of faith to operate. Without love as the driving force behind our words and deeds, what we do will have no lasting impact.

If we desire to be full of and operate in God’s power, we must first be full of His love and desire to show that love to those around us.

Practical Application

Be on the lookout for opportunities to demonstrate love to others on purpose. It may be through acts of kindness, giving something to someone they didn’t expect or serving them with no expectation of receiving anything in return. Helping to meet the practical needs of others is a powerful way to display God’s love to others.

1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Peter 4:8

The Measure of Faith

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

It takes faith to do anything in the kingdom of God. Sometimes Christians feel like God only gives the faith to do supernatural things to a select few. They believe that only the “spiritual elite” can do great things by faith. However, Paul made it clear when he said “to every man among you” that he meant that everyone who believes has faith to do great things.

Every believer has a measure of faith. So, God expects every Christian to operate in kingdom principles and power.

However, Paul gave a warning connected to our individual measure of faith. He told us not to think that you are something amazing because you operate in supernatural power. Instead, he explained if we are truly operating in faith, it will change our outlook — not just about ourselves, but toward the people and the world.

When situations are difficult, it's our faith that keeps us grounded and hopeful. When people are problematic, it’s our faith that allows us to see others the way God sees them.

Paul’s main point should be abundantly clear: humility is key. We need to walk in humility, recognizing that our faith is a gift from God and doesn’t make us more important or less significant than any other.

Practical Application

It is important to pay attention to any prideful talk or thoughts that may come out of our mouths or into our minds. Be vigilant to resist the temptation to talk about yourself or boast about your own abilities. Instead, look for opportunities to celebrate others and encourage them in faith.

Romans 11:20; 1 Corinthians 15:10

Finding Real Rest

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Have you asked someone recently how they are doing, and they responded, “Tired”? Some say that we live in the age of perpetual exhaustion. People are just constantly tired, no matter how much rest or reprieve they get.

Jesus knew this would happen, so He gave us a powerful promise. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said if we are tired, or feel like the burden of the world is on us, we can come to Him and He will give us real rest.

The word rest in this verse is anapauo in Greek and means a refreshing.

That's what you and I need. Jesus replaces our exhaustion with a refreshing of our souls.

But Jesus doesn’t stop with giving us a refreshing. Jesus said we also can take His yoke upon us. The yoke of Christ represents His teaching and guidance. So, Jesus promised that by aligning our lives with Him, we would find true rest.

Jesus was not offering us a vacation or a momentary reprieve from our exhausted lives. He was offering believers a transformation of how we deal with life. When we surrender to His teaching and submit to His Lordship, we can have a peace that transcends all of our understanding. His yoke is easy to bear, and His burden is light. What you really need when you are exhausted is not sleep, a vacation, or a disconnect. You need Jesus.

Practical Application

When you are tired, don’t give in to the lie that you should take time away from church, prayer, or your relationship with God. During times of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion, we should run to Him and He will give us the strength, the peace and the real rest that we need.

Jeremiah 6:16; Proverbs 3:17