Reading the Word

1 Corinthians 12:1–11 (ESV)

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Understanding and Applying the Word

The world divides on so many things. We split on issues of race, nationality, sex, wealth, fame, power, etc. The Church is called to be different. We are called to be unified because we serve the same Lord. In Christ there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, rich or poor. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and equals.

Being equal is not the same as being the same. We do have differences. The body of Christ is made up of people who are different in race and nationality, who are different in sex, who are different in social standing, and who have different gifts and abilities. We see in our passage today that God gives different gifts to different people. These things are not for the purpose of making some more valuable than others, but for the common good of all. Let’s celebrate our differences and show the world our unity in Christ.

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