Man
United – The Obedient Church (5)
Scriptural
Text: 1
Corinthians 12: 4-7, 14
God’s Family – A Formidable
Force
How can God’s family become a magnificent force? It is by
the synchronised efforts put together by God’ people, fighting
spiritual wars as one, as a United Front. With God on our side,
armed and equipped with an array of talents of diverse backgrounds
and abilities, we can be a formidable force.
God
made us Different
God made us different not for us to live apart, but to better partner
one another. We are all made different to finish His work. When
we embrace our differences, our eyes will be opened to see the beauty
behind each of them.
The Bible says: “There are
different kinds of gifts, but the same spirit. There are different
kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of
working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each
one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good…
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.” 1 Corinthians
12:4-7, 14 (NIV).
Just
like a carpenter’s toolbox. It is made of different tools,
but each serves its specific purpose for him to construct the most
beautiful, most intricate piece of furniture.
Different, yet United
•
Different parts but ONE source of strength (v.4)
Sometimes within the church –
we tend to exalt certain gifts over the others. But can we do that?
•
Different
work but ONE Master (v. 5)
Let us not highlight one ministry
over another. Just like the ‘shoelaces’ of the church,
some ministries are the least noticed, but the most essential programmes
that tie the community together.
•
Different
expressions but ONE Artist (v.6)
Worship is essentially just ONE
and the same. Broken down – it should be just as lifting our
hearts to God with words and songs. The problem is when we equate
different music with better worship. We need to understand there
is no new style of worship – just different music.
•
Different
flavors but ONE purpose (v.7)
Whatever our taste in preachers,
church or interpretation of the Spirit, we need to respect others
to know God works through different manifestations for the common
good of His people. Just like ice cream flavours, we learn to appreciate
the different smells and tastes, and help people in God’s
kingdom.
There are many different people
in the church community but there will always be ONE Spirit and
ONE God.