1 Corinthians 12

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I Corinthians 12:12-20, Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Paul is trying to guide the Corinthian church to be a model of Christian community.  In true Christian community, there are many different kinds of people with different kinds of gifts. Just as an aside, when someone says yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives them at least one spiritual gift.  There is a wide diversity of gifts that the Spirit offers, including the gift of preaching/teaching, prophecy, apostleship, evangelism, and shepherding.  There are even more specific gifts under these main headings.

This variety of gifts is the way God intended things to be!  But while there is diversity in gifts, there is unity in purpose.  The body of Christ requires all these different people with different and unique gifts to be working together to ensure that Jesus' mission continues to be carried out in the world.  One gift is not more important than another but they are all essential to have a fully functioning body. 

Do you know what spiritual gifts you have been given?  If not, I strongly encourage you to pray about that today.  There are some really good spiritual gifts assessments that are free online as well.  God has given us gifts for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.  If you know your gifts, are you currently making use of them at New Hope or in your local church?  There are many parts but one body.  Your gifts are needed to form a fully functioning, healthy, thriving community of faith!

Let's pray...God, We thank you for our gifts.  We thank you for how you uniquely gift people to serve your church and build up the body of Christ.  Help us remember how you have designed us to all work together, diverse and unique creations unified in you and you alone.  More of you, Jesus, and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.