“For as the body is one and has many members…by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free…” – 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NKJV)
As a child and even as an adult, I enjoyed watching Power Rangers. It was my favourite television show, and I am sure many of you will share the same sentiment. It was a show about five regular teenagers who had extraordinary powers. These teenagers would combine their skills and powers to create one enormous crime-fighting robot. When they combined their powers, nothing could stop them.
Think about it: there isn’t much difference for those of us who are a part of the body of Jesus Christ. The Corinthian Church was responsible for dividing the body into those who were perceived to have more spiritual gifts, for example, speaking in tongues or preaching, and those who did not. Based on our main Scripture, the Apostle Paul was emphasising to the Corinthians (and to us) that each one makes up a part of the bigger body of Christ – with Jesus Christ as the head. Paul underlined that we should never feel that we are more important than anyone else or more gifted than others since each part (gift) is essential for the other to function. If we allow this attitude to manifest itself, then ultimately, jealousy, pride, and insecurity will influence the entire church and cause us to fail to function effectively.
Friends, while our bodies consist of various parts, and some parts are more visible than others, this very diversity of parts all makes up one unified body. Yes, our bodies can function without some of their parts; however, it is greatest when all of them are present and working together as a unified whole. This is true with the body of the church as well, and exactly how God intends for us to function.
We are all dissimilar, and we have different strengths, weaknesses, different experiences, skills, and talents; nevertheless, the Holy Spirit has baptised each one of us into one body of Christ for the benefit of the body as a whole. This is us, unity in our diversity.
Read: Psalm 133:1; 1 Corinthians 12:15-18
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 88:10-18; Romans 7:7-25; Hosea 6; Hosea 7
