“We had our fellowship group over last night,” Stan began one morning.
“How was that?” I asked.
“Always great,” Stan replied. “But last night was even more special than usual.”
“In what way?”
“The leader focused on something the apostle Paul wrote to us that he also sent in his first letter to the church in Corinth. And then we spent most of the time talking about the importance of the Holy Spirit’s work for the common good.”
“The common good? What’s that mean?”
“From my perspective,” Stan replied, “too often I think that the Holy Spirit is in me for me alone, for my purposes, when in fact He is in each believer for the benefit of others who comprise the church.”
Continuing, he added, “That is what was so special about our fellowship group last night. We spent a long time with each person sharing what the Holy Spirit was doing so that all of us could benefit from what was said.”
“Like not keeping what the Holy Spirit is doing as a secret, but sharing it openly. Is that it?”
“That’s it!” Stan replied. “And for me, if I choose to not listen to what someone else has to say about what the Holy Spirit is doing in and through them, I may well miss an opportunity to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in a new and deeper way.”
“But what if a person doesn’t want to hear about what’s going on with someone else?” I asked.
“Their choice; their loss.”
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Bible verses to consider:
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7.
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the presence of the Holy Spirit in each believer, not only to help, guide, and counsel that person, but also to share with others for the common good of building up your church. Please help me in being totally open to what others have to say about how and what the Holy Spirit is doing in and through them so that you can make clear to me what you have for me to know for my good and for the good of others. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you consider that the Holy Spirit is in you for you and your benefit alone? Why or why not? Do you ever find yourself not wanting to hear what others have to say about how the Holy Spirit is working in and through them? If so, what’s that all about? Is that something that God wants? If you have that attitude, have you talked with God about it? Are you sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is doing in and through you so you can share it with others for the common good of the church? If no, why?
Waiting for the Train 