Psalm 35:7-9 English Standard Version

⁷ For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life. ⁸ Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction! ⁹ Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation.

Yesterday my study of fellowship led me to a spiritual minefield and I perceived danger all about me. I gave up that study and this morning discovered why my study took that turn yesterday.

The issue of an improvised explosive device (IED) has 3 methods of handling that directly affects fellowship. Do not discover it and everyone around us gets wounded. Ignore it but warn others and then it becomes someone else’s problem. The third and best answer is to disarm it so that it is no longer a danger to anyone.

This is the essence of fellowship. We are in this with others that we love. They should protect us and we should protect them. A vast array of experience is brought to the table and we need to be mindful of what is being offered in how problems have been dealt with in the lives of others. We should share our experiences also.

How does it make us feel when someone says “I’ll pray for you.”? If they walk off without taking the time to stop what they are doing and be instant in prayer, does that make us feel like we are not important enough for a moment of their time? If it is someone we are not in close fellowship with, that moment might be the opportunity to show the love of Christ and draw them into fellowship.

Remember Jesus said, “They shall know you are my disciples by the way you love one another.”

One another should be extended to those outside our inner circle.

Gracious Gifts by Larry Perry

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 English Standard Version

⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸ For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

The term gracious gift is applied here to the manifestation of gifts regardless of any other ministry. They may be graciously imparted to anyone, at any time because it serves God to do so. These gifts may appear to anyone of any age, experience, maturity, training or title. The issue here is common good. If the will of God was dependent upon the appearance of an apostle, pastor, or teacher, what does that say about God’s ability to be sovereign?

God’s sovereign will is not dependent upon mankind. He does not need us to be sovereign.

The Greek word for apportions in verse 11 is diaireō with a definition of distribution. This is like a distributor for a car where a spark is applied to different wires in turn to go where the power is needed. It does so in turn according to the connections made by us to those in need.

This is yet another reason for us to continue to remain in fellowship with those who have placed their faith in Christ.