God's love originates in Himself, was manifested in His Son, and is perfected in His people. God's love is perfected in us when we reproduce it.  We either use love and perfect it or lose it. This partly explains the apostle John's intense concern about fellowship.  What concerned him is not just an optional blessing to believers, but a fundamental outlet for the manifestation and perfection of God's love amongst humanity.

Only by knowing God can we have this love, and only by loving can we know Him! This may sound like a vicious circle, but the two go together. Only by learning to love God can we learn His nature, that is, what He is like. We cannot have that love until we first come to know Him. Through fellowship with Him, we come to know Him and receive His love, and in using His love, we become like Him and really know Him. We can only really come to know God by experiencing the use of His love ourselves.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

According to St. Paul, the Holy Spirit gives every follower of Christ at least one spiritual gift.  Am I using my gift?  Are you using your gift?  These God given abilities are bestowed so that the church can function effectively and grow strong.  We are to use our gifts; whether teaching, encouraging, or helping others; all in the service to Christ.  When we do not, His church suffers, its ministry is incomplete, and its outreach and effectiveness are crippled.  In Christ you are gifted.  So use your gift for Him.

 

“Lord, thank you for the grace of Your gifts.”

 

             A church can become a graveyard if its members bury their gifts.

More Devotionals
HEALING SERVICE GHARB GOZO
THE NEXT HEALING SERVICE WILL BE HELD IN SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE PARISH CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION   IN   GHARB GOZO ON SATURDAY 28 AUGUST AT 8.00PM.
THE HEALING SERVICE WILL BE LED BY DR JOHN.

 EVERYONE IS INVITED. SINCE THIS IS AN OUTDOOR EVENT, CHAIRS AND SANITARY UNITS WILL BE PROVIDED.