1 Corinthians 12: 8-14 (NIV) – “To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to 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. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For 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. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

Paul is using the analogy of the physical body to illustrate how we are together the body of Christ. It’s not a common style or mission that binds us. What binds us together is far more powerful and eternal – each one of us has died with Christ and was raised with Him – “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body…and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

God did not give Spiritual gifts to us so that we would shine and function individually. Nor are we just “community”. We are the body of Christ, redeemed, empowered and gifted to display and share Christ in the world. The gifts of the Spirit work most effectively out of this unity.

Let’s ask God to purify our hearts to see and understand who we are as His church from His eyes, Let’s also thank and praise God for the beautiful and powerful unity of being His church, and may the Spirit fill us even more to strengthen and empower this unity so that gifts of the Spirit may be fruitful as we minister.

– CH