8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

— 2 Corinthians 12:8-13

55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.

58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him.

— Acts 7:55-58

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

The Spirit is not just our Comforter and Counselor. He is our Equipper. He gives gifts, not random talents, but Spiritual weapons. Paul writes to the Corinthians about this with urgency. He names them words of wisdom, words of knowledge, gifts of healing, prophecy, tongues, interpretation, and discernment. These gifts weren’t just for church leaders or apostles. They were for the body of Christ. Therefore our walk with God is not just about survival but it’s about assignment for Christ’s body.

The Spirit will not send us without first filling us. He gives boldness when fear grips our chests. He gives words when our natural vocabulary runs dry. It gives endurance when our body, our mind and our spirit feel like quitting. Think about Stephen, the first martyr in the New Testament. He was not an apostle, but just a man full of faith in the Holy Spirit. When he stood before a raging crowd, facing death for his faith, he didn’t back down. He spoke truth with fire and Scriptures as his face shone like an angel’s. That’s not human confidence, but supernatural empowerment from the Spirit!