*+ The Same

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: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1st Corinthians 12:4-11 NKJV

God loves you and wants the very best for your life. My pastor declares this all the time. He's not a "name it, claim it", "blab it, grab it" kind of guy, but he is steeped in the Word of God and proclaims Truth every time he speaks. 

God really DOES love you and He TRULY wants the best for your life! So, because He loves us so much, He made each of us uniquely ourselves. Think about the billions of people and no two fingerprints alike. Mind-boggling! He didn't make us unique in order to be in the spotlight. He didn't make us unique so that we could laud it over anyone who doesn't have the same giftings we might have. He made us unique because we each bring something of value to the table to accomplish His purpose - His goals in our lives and the lives of those around us. Something that is uniquely our own, yet a vital part of the whole picture. 

The world calls for us to celebrate diversity and to make it our focus. The world encourages us to find the thing that's different and exploit it; to focus on what separates us and divide into groups accordingly. God never called us to division. He called us into relationship with Himself and the Body of Christ - which is you and me.

How do you make a friend? You either get thrust into a forced connection or you first notice that there is some kind of common ground on which you can connect? Right? 

That is EXACTLY what God is calling us to do in our Scripture text for today. Yes, we're all different, but we are to celebrate the SAME! The same Spirit (the one that raised Christ Jesus from the dead). The same God who works all in all. We are not called to separatism.

Prayer:

Father,
         We don't want to lose our lives by lauding it over everyone. Lord, may we remember and focus that we were created to do things for others - things that You ordained for us to do long ago. Help us to recognize Your handiwork and cause us to hasten to do all that You have in Your Heart and Mind for us. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen