1 Corinthians 12-13: Diverse but Unified

As Paul continues his letter to the Corinthians, he now addresses spiritual gifts.  I feel like there are so many possible ways to go with this blog post and so much that could be written.  Obviously, I can't address it all in one post and Josh spoke on these chapters a couple Sundays ago, so much has already been discussed.  That being said, let's start in chapter 12, verses 4 through 7, which are absolutely foundational to the conversation about spiritual gifts.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."  1 Cor. 12:4-7 (NASB)

Same Spirit.  Same Lord. Same God.  Our gifts and ministries and the effects of the Holy Spirit in our lives will be different but they are all from the same God and they are all to be used for the common good.  The footnote in my study Bible says, "These verses, reflecting the Trinity, show the diversity and unity of spiritual gifts."  I love that.  Our gifts are diverse, but unified.

That leads perfectly into Paul's analogy of the body of Christ.  We are diverse in our giftings and purposes but united in the name of Jesus and in the ultimate purpose of bringing glory to Him.

"For even as the body is one and yet has many members and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.  For the body is not one member, but many." 1 Cor. 12:12-14 (NASB)

My heart is that we would stand on this truth that as the body of Christ, we are diverse but unified.  Not comparing our gifts and our role in the kingdom with other people's gifts and role and not gaining our identity and significance from what we perceive our gifts to be compared to someone else's.  I believe that comparison has to be one of the enemy's greatest weapons against us.  When we compare and feel superior or inferior, we can no longer walk in the power of the Holy Spirit in us or in the fullness of the giftings He has given to us.

Interestingly, verses 14 through 20 seem to address those who who feel like their gifts are inferior and verses 21 through 26 are written to those who feel that their gifts are superior.  We are typically in one of these two camps, both of which are destructive to us as individuals and to the body of Christ as a whole.

"...so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.  Now you are Christs' body, and individually members of it."  1 Cor. 12:25-27 NASB.

What a vision for what it could and should look like to live in unity as the body of Christ! Suffering and rejoicing with each other without division, without comparison, but in joy and confidence and purpose. And, of course, in love.

1 Corinthians 13 is the love chapter.  The one that sounds so beautiful and wonderful at weddings but in reality is one of the most challenging Scriptures I know.  This picture of love is beautiful.  Because it is a picture of God's love for us, manifested in Christ on the cross.  But this love is not easy. It's not a feeling.  It's not at all what comes naturally to us.  It is love completely poured out not because of what someone does to deserve it but solely because our God is love.

And it is here in 1 Corinthians 13 that Paul tells us that all of our spiritual gifts are nothing if we do not love.  And not just love how we understand it to be.  But love as God loves us.  Patient. Kind. Not envying. Not boasting. Not dishonoring. Not self-seeking. Not easily angered. Not keeping a record of wrongs. Not delighting in evil but rejoicing with truth.  Love that protects. Trusts. Hopes. Perseveres.  Love that does not fail.

Can you imagine if we, as the body of Christ, loved each other with that kind of love? If we stopped comparing and judging and striving but instead lived out our unique role in the body, however big or small it may seem, with joy and with love that reflects the love that Jesus poured out on the cross for us.  I am challenged in this.  I hope you are as well.  May we live in the reality of God's love for us and may we live out this love in the body of Christ.