DIFFERENT BY DESIGN

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

(‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭7‬, ‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬)

God made us diverse. We are different by design—by Divine direction. We have the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God, yet we have differing gifts, diverse ministries, and different activities. Together we can accomplish much more than by ourselves. Yet, those differences can bring division, if we are not careful. It happened to the church at Corinth.

Paul had a vital reminder for them (and for us), using the analogy of the body—comprised of many members—but all functioning together for the good of the body—if we are healthy.

I have an autoimmune disease, thankfully in remission now. It has a long name, but essentially it is when your immune system attacks your platelets as if they were a virus instead of vital for clotting the blood. Without treatment to bring this into remission, I would bleed to death.

We have churches that are bleeding from self-inflicted wounds—and many die. The body is attacking itself. I have heard that one of the greatest challenges on the mission field is from missionaries who cannot get along, will not forgive, and attack each other.

May this never be so with us! Listen to what Paul went on to say in v. 12-27.

“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being 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 have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”

If we cannot love each other, then why would those we seek to reach believe the message of God’s love? Sometimes, love demands a tough conversation. If we want to help someone, they may need a word that is pointed, but it must always be driven by love.

On the other hand, we may not listen and we may not have sympathy. I heard John Maxwell say this, “Hurting people hurt people, and are easily hurt by people.” If we will dig deeper, we may find out that the one who is different and difficult has a hurt inside. It is not an excuse, but it should cause us to have compassion.

We are different by design—and I say, “Viva la difference!”

Your Brother,

Dennis Thurman, Mission Strategist