Paul writing to the Corinthians has this to say, ‘Your body has many parts – limbs, organs, cells – but no matter how many parts you can name, you’re still one body. It’s exactly the same with Christ. By means of His one Spirit, we all said good bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything… Each of us is now part of the resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain – His Spirit where we all come to drink.” (1 Cor. 12: 12-14 The MESSAGE by Eugene Peterson)
The local church is a microcosm of the church universal, so it may be regarded as a body. By God’s design and appointment, this body, like the human body has different members and different functions, interacting with each other. There is that interdependence of the members of the body.
It is clear that the diversity Paul has in mind is not only to do with our outward estate, but also the bestowal of spiritual gifts. (1 Cor. 12: 4-11, 27-31) This is why there is repeated emphasis in the Bible that spiritual gifts are given for the edification of the church (1 Cor 12: 7, 1 Pet. 4: 10, Rom. 12: 5, Eph. 4: 11-16) This being the case, the faithful exercise of spiritual of gifts by members of the church is essential to the building of unity of the church. We learn to depend on each other.
The Bible gives us several lists of gifts, but they are not intended to be exhaustive. Each of us possesses certain gifts, some more gifted than others. That does not mean one is more important than the other. The more a person gifted, the more is expected of him or her. When we meet a gifted person, let us not be jealous or envious of him. Rather let us thank God for him and pray that he will use his gifts to glorify God. If you feel you are very gifted, thank God for your gifts and there is no reason to boast. Beware of spiritual pride. Be humble and dedicate that gift to Him to be used for His glory.
The implication of this thought is that unity of the church is promoted as members learn to serve God and one another with specific gifts. We minister to each other and encourage one another as we work together for the good of our church.
May the Lord grant us that we may know how to stir to flames the gifts that He has given us for the building up of His church to the end that His name be glorified.
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