“Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.” (1 Corinthians 12:14-16)
Wait a minute! Didn’t Paul just write in the last verse that we are all one body? Baptized by one Spirit? All of us given that same one Spirit to drink? Isn’t being a Christian all about unity?
Well, kind of. But it’s not about being stamped out by a cookie cutter, one identical item after another. Christians get accused of wanting everyone to be that way sometimes, but that’s not God’s idea. We are unified by the same power source (the Holy Spirit), but we’re all given different powers.
Geeky metaphor alert: It’s kind of like Aquaman and the Flash — united by being superheroes, but with wildly different supernatural abilities. Aquaman will never run faster than Superman, and the Flash will always have to come up for air. Our spiritual gifts help to define our purpose in life. The Flash can’t stop being the fast guy just because he’s mad he can’t swim so good. We’ve got to get comfortable with the gifts God gives us.
Think: What are the most important parts of your body? What are the least important parts? Are you sure? Are there any parts you can live without?
Pray: Ask God to help you to come to a clear understanding of what your specific spiritual gift/gifts are — and what they are not. Then ask Him to help you to be fully satisfied to use your gifts to serve Him and others.
Do: If you’re a comic book fan, make a quick list of a few of the lesser superheroes. Think they’re ever resentful not to be Supes, Batman, or Spidey?