There
Are Different Kinds Of Gifts
There are different kinds
of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of
service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of
them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the
manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given
through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by
means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts
of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another
prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in
different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to
each one, just as he determines.
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.
1
Corinthians 12:4-14
The Church of Christ is
much more similar to a spotted ear of corn than to a
corn cob of just one color. The apostle Paul used the imagery of a body to
describe the church, because even though we are all one body, and we have the
same God, each of us has been given a different gift. As Paul said, “There are
different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of
working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” Our
diversity in the ways we help each other shows God’s generosity and creativity.
As we embrace our diversity,
may we also make every effort to keep our unity in faith and purpose. Yes, we
have different abilities and backgrounds. We speak different languages and come
from different countries. But we have the same wonderful God, the Creator who
delights in so much variety.
We
need one another in order to be what God wants us to
be.
Our
Daily Bread – July 8, 2018