Each of Us

ByJim Stephens

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12; Psalm 142

4 Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. 6 There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NLT)

1 Corinthians 12 is about the multi-gifted, many-membered Body of Christ. God gives spiritual gifts to the individual members of the Body of Christ. Those gifts are given to “Each of us” and “All of us.”

The gifts are different, but they all come from God through his Holy Spirit. The different gifts enable us to serve in different ways, but we’re all serving the same Lord. The different gifts mean that God works in us and through us in different ways, but it’s still God at work by his Holy Spirit.

Key thoughts here are: “Different gift”, “Same Spirit”, “Each of us”, and “All of us.”

If we really get it, if we understand what Paul is saying about the gifts the Holy Spirit gives, about the Body of Christ, and about the “Each of us” and the “All of us,” we will understand that:
• No Christian can say, “They don’t need me!” (1 Corinthians 12:14-17)
• No Christian can say, “I don’t need them!” (1 Corinthians 12:18-21)

Friends, we really do need each other! How are you doing with the “I need them and they need me” part of the equation? Have you found your unique place and fit and participation in the Body of Christ and the Family of God? Will you pray this prayer with me today…

Prayer:

Father, I know we Christians together are Christ’s living, serving, working, active Body right here and right now. Help me to really know that I need them and they need me. Help me to always think “We” and not “They” when I think about the church you’ve chosen me to be part of. Help us together to do our part with the gifts you’ve given us, and respect the part that others do with the gifts you’ve given them. Amen!