Bible.com.au: Reading Plan - Why Unity Matters

Reflection:

Today we are reading the Bible with Anna Grummitt, the Youth & Schools Coordinator at the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX), who is also studying a Graduate Diploma of Divinity at SMBC.

Further reading: 1 Corinthians 12:15-27

‘Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.’ (1 Cor 12:27)

I vividly remember the day in high school when our whole grade had to do a series of fitness tests.

For one test, we were asked to climb a single rope hanging from the ceiling of the gym. To my surprise, I made it to the very top, and felt a rush of pride. This was shaping up to be the best day ever.

But then came the flexibility test: a total disaster. The teachers gave me a score of 4. The average was 23. I was filled with shame.

I’m sure we’ve all had moments like this — where we feel proud of our talents, and ashamed about our weaknesses. But in today’s passage, the Apostle Paul tells us that when it comes to our spiritual gifts, there’s no room for either pride or shame.

Paul uses the ‘body’ metaphor to make his point. We all have different gifts, but “we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body.” Therefore, feeling inadequate or ashamed of your gifts is like a foot saying, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body.” And feeling proud or self-sufficient is like an eye saying to the hand, “I don’t need you.” Neither of these responses make sense!

God has made us just as he intended. Whatever our gifts, we have an important part to play in his mission. But we also need the gifts of others. We are a united body, made up not of one part, but many.

Let’s pray that God would banish our pride and shame over our spiritual gifts and fill us with joy in the unity and diversity of the body of Christ.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you that your Spirit has united us with other believers as part of Christ’s body. I praise you for the different gifts you have given us, and I ask for your help as I seek to use my gifts for the good of the whole body. When I’m feeling inadequate, help me to remember that I have an important part to play in your mission. And when I’m tempted towards pride, help me to value the gifts of others. Please give me a fresh joy in our unity and diversity as believers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

1Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to 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. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

12Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13For 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. 14Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

Why Unity Matters

Day 3 of 7

NIV

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Days

1 Corinthians 12:1-31