1 Corinthians 12:7 English Standard Version (ESV) To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Some sound advice came to me some time ago from another devotional writer.

The use of the word I sounds like pride and the use of the word you sounds accusatorial.

Using words like us and our rings of a common experience and does not make the hearer feel alone or patronized. We do not have to sound like we are being judgmental in saying we have had the same experience.

Neither should we expect others to experience the same miracle healing we had. God’s will is a work in each of us and we must take into consideration the feelings of others in how we share God’s sovereign power. His will may be different for others.

Why this is true has everything to do with what God knows is best for each of us. While we might all have gotten caught up in the same experience our exit strategies may not be the same. That is personal for each of us and to tell someone that they “should do it this way” will be condemning if it doesn’t work for that individual.

One area that is easy to offend another is in expecting others to hear God in the same way. There have been many instances of weakening another’s faith in comparing our lives to theirs.

2 Corinthians 10:12 English Standard Version (ESV) Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

Paul’s advice here is to believers and is not asking us to compare ourselves with unbelievers because we do not share this common bond in the Holy Spirit.

Commending themselves sounds a little like “I have done…”