Scripture
Vs 3 I want you to understand … no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
Vs 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
Vs 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
VS 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
Vs 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
VS 18 God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
VS 23 … the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
VS 25 … that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
Vs 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Observation
Paul is writing a exposition on the gifts given to members of the church.
But before he even gets into the specifics, he wants me, and his readers, to “understand” something first.
I can’t even say the words” Jesus is Lord” without the Holy Spirit empowering me to do so!
Paul then goes on to show his extreme concerns about creating division where there should be unity.
Paul emphasizes the Unity of God, even though a Trinity”.
He mentions the “Same Spirit”, “Same Lord”, and “Same God” in distribution and empowerment of our gifts.
Paul then emphasizes unity within the church, even though many members.
“There may be no division in the body” …
“You are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
Paul also makes clear what the gifts are for:
“The common good” … “that the member may have the same care for one another”.
Application
If I am ever inclined to think too highly of any personal gifting,
Paul gives me these words to make sure I don’t get to full of myself.
Before I even think about using a gift, I can’t even utter the words “Jesus is Lord” without the Spirit’s power!
And before I think I’ve done something special to achieve my gifting, Paul makes clear,
“God arranged the members as he chose”!
So, if it’s all about God and His doing, am I, then, worthless?
Absolutely NOT!!!
After taking me down a notch in humility, Paul makes clear my significance,
Paul states that the “weaker” members are “INDISPENSIBLE”!
What an incredible word to use!
This is ME! … and other “weak” members! … I am INDISPENSIBLE!
And why am I indispensable? … Because I am in “the body of Christ”!
And why am I in the body of Christ? … For the “common good” … and “the same care for one another”.
So, I can never get too proud to think I am responsible for my own gifting.
Yet, I can also never get too down to think I am worthless or unnecessary.
The question every human longs to answer in given here …
I have meaning and purpose and fulfillment in the body of Christ!
Prayer
Thank you, God,
That you choose and you arrange
That you enable and you unite
That we may care for one another
In Jesus name,
Amen