The concept of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in the New Testament, is a profound testament to the intricate and transcendent relationship between humanity and the divine. These gifts are not merely symbolic tokens; they are transformative powers that enable individuals to transcend their ordinary limitations and align themselves with a higher purpose. To truly grasp the magnitude of these gifts, one must delve into their biblical foundations and understand their psychological and spiritual implications. In 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, the Apostle Paul provides a detailed enumeration of these gifts: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish betwee...
When I was growing up, I didn't realize that the apostles were ordinary, imperfect people like most of us. When I got to watch the series, The Chosen, the full humanity of the apostles and even Jesus were brought to life and it brings me to tears most of the time because it means that ordinary, nameless people like us can be part of God's inner circle. Not one of them were born with halos on their heads, they were as ordinary as they come struggling through this rat race of a life. One of them was someone who'll bend the laws if needed. One of them had been in prostitution. One of them was in a profession that is viewed more cut throat than what our Wall Street guys do now. One of them was someone who only trusts himself and another is even a trained assassin. But one of them is someone who loves money and achievements more like many of us now. And way later, a mass murderer got converted to be one of Jesus' followers. They weren't a flock of f...