SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. [1 Corinthians 12:11] Unknown to us, invisible to our eyes, the Spirit works in the church and the world, spreading out God’s gifts, working out God’s purposes, custom designing God’s church. Nothing is by chance. Who is in the church, how they are gifted, what they do, what they have to offer, etc. its all as the Spirit determined. But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. [1 Corinthians 12:18]
Jesus spends the night praying about how to set up the first team of disciples. God, by the Spirit, directs Jesus to pick the specific disciples that He picks: One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. [Luke 6:12-16] What a motley crew, yet arranged by God, just as he wanted them to be.
Can we see the present community (‘church’) we belong to in a similar way. A body of unique people, each one gifted in a particular way, each one there for a specific purpose, known only to God. Even the Judas types, the ones that belong but do not believe, are there for a purpose. The Spirit is working behind the scenes, leading each person to our team. He gives to each one something that they can offer, for the common good. This is what we normally call spiritual gifts. Without getting technical into what spiritual gifts are, it is enough to say that whatever we are and whatever we have has been entrusted to us by God’s design to fulfill a purpose on the body.
I am where I am for a reason. So are you. I cannot tell you the specifics of why, but in general what you are and what you have is intended for the common good, to help the whole body fulfill its purpose. After reading this passage, we are encouraged to consider carefully how God has shaped and positioned us, and to determine to devote all that we are and have to fulfilling His purpose. According to Jesus, we will one day have to give an account of what we did with the gifts He assigned to us [Matthew 25:14-30].
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for each and every person that is a part of the team You assigned me to. Help each one of us to do our part!
I am so thankful that we are all unique as each part of the human body is unique. Every part (no matter how small or seemingly insignificant) has a role to play in the overall functioning of the body so it can both remain, and maintain its good health. I believe this is the same within the church – individual churches, and the church as a whole. We are all God’s children, regardless of age, gender, physical or mental ability, status, etc, etc, and He wants to do a work IN each one of us “motley crew” so that He can work THROUGH us – all He requires from us is our willingness to listen and obey. As “the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!””, we all need each other and can all learn from each other as long as we remain humble and open to God’s ways of teaching and growing us. Because His ways are not our ways, the world tends to discount that which seems illogical…but then was it logical for Jesus to rub mud in a blind man’s eyes for his sight to be restored?? It is so easy to miss God (speaking or moving) if we are not open to what may seem to us to be illogical. Our human pride tends to get in the way – it’s called foolishness if things don’t make any sense. Isn’t that what we think when we’re dealing with children and their dreams and imaginations?? I thank God that He chose a motley crew for such an important mission as studying with Jesus and then for spreading the good news of what they learned. It makes me see that He truly does use “the foolish things of this world to dumbfound the wise” and it gives me hope that we can all serve a purpose within the body of Christ, we can all be used of God, and we can all learn something new each and every day from each other if we just remain open. The church has been immobilized and paralyzed far too long – it’s time to unite, appreciate and embrace the uniqueness, get healthy and strong so God can do a work IN it and then ultimately THROUGH it for the rest of the world to see and be amazed! Only then can God get the glory.