One body

1 Corinthians 12:1-12 NASB

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.


My thoughts -

Confession: Most of the time, when I think about what my gifts are versus what others' gifts are (this is a BAD way to think, by the way) I really wish I was someone else. I am sure that I am not alone in this. I am also sure that there are some who are thankful that they are who they are and not someone else.

But what my gifts are doesn't matter. And what your gifts are doesn't matter. What matters is that we use our gifts together for the glory of God.

We don't need to have pride about our gifts. We don't need to be jealous of others' gifts. They are gifts from God. They are not ours to have, to hold, and to keep. They are God's given to us to use for God's glory.

I'd love to perform miracles. I'd love to heal people. I'd love to bring sharp insight in the Word. I'd love to be able to do a lot of things. I mean, how cool would it be to be able to speak or interpret in tongues?

But these things would be me doing them. They would not be for God's glory but for my own.

Paul goes on in this chapter to declare that we are all parts of one body, the body of Christ. The hand is a part of the body no more and no less than the foot, or the eye, or the ear, or whatever. The hand shouldn't envy the eye. If the whole body were just eyes what good would it be?

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.0