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For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:12-31a)
Did Jesus say, "Where two or three are gathered there's gonna be trouble?" Of course not. (If you don't know the real verse, please Google it!) Yet, this is what happens if we don't invite Jesus in, and churches are no exception. You and I have heard some of the most heart-warming, delightful things said among humans in church. And you and I have also, sadly, heard some of the most disheartening, sad things a human could ever tell among human. And sadder even still, you and I may have said some of those things. Pausing now for prayer. Stop to think of the power of the Holy Spirit upon the person called the Apostle Paul. His job was to spread the gospel which he did in marvelous ways, chief among them, the starting of new churches. Built with an urgency to believe and follow Jesus, people came to faith through Paul or through one of his churches in many parts of the known world. And as the church progressed, people began to notice that not all people had the same jobs in the church and this was largely determined by the spiritual gifts they possessed. Among the most confusing was the gift of tongues, and so people became angry at each other and some even with God. Paul writes this part of his letter to the church in Corinth to say, everybody is somebody in the Body of Christ, and they're all good!
You and I have work to do for Jesus. Your job may be a bit different from mine, and that's okay. All good. All needed.
Say or read this prayer. Then, get to work.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the gift(s) that I have as your follower. Help me to make the most of it, and help me as I mature and walk with You, recognize and realize other gifts to better serve You. This I ask in Christ's strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Get to work!
Eradio Valverde
