(The following is the July 22 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 1 Corinthians 12 and pay close attention to verses 4-21.)
God displayed masterful creativity in making the human body. How internal systems cooperate and depend on each other is evident, especially when something goes wrong. The failure of one part has a ripple effect on others, impairing them or causing them to work differently to fill the gap.
So it is with Christ’s church. God has masterfully formed the body of Christ. The church comprises people of all ages, races, ethnicities, socio-economic statuses, skills, education levels, professions, genders, languages, backgrounds, experiences, interests, etc. No two churches are identical. Christ uniquely equips each to be a community for one another and a mission outpost for reaching others. “God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted” (v. 18).
This uniqueness is evident in the spiritual gifts God gives his people. No one person can do everything a church requires to function. Each believer has one or more spiritual gifts they can use to serve God. Some are more public than others, but all are important. “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God produces each gift in each person. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good” (vv. 4-7).
Knowing that God equips and arranges us in his church as he knows best should lead us to celebrate those differences. We should neither think too highly of our gifts nor lament about gifts we don’t have. Instead, we should recognize and develop our abilities, use them with joy for God’s kingdom, and encourage the same growth and service in others.
Next Step:
How are you equipped to serve Christ in his church? What spiritual gifts do you see in others that you do not possess? Verbally affirm several church members soon regarding their unique gifts. Thank God for how he has equipped you and arranged his body collectively.
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