Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
I love sports! Football, soccer, basketball… it doesn’t matter to me what the sport is; I love watching teams work together for a common goal.
As a former athlete, there is something special about being on a team. A team is made up of a group of individuals, each bringing their own unique skills and characteristics. Each member, using their own skills and gifts, works alongside each other to accomplish a shared goal - to catch a touchdown, score a goal, or shoot a basket. Everyone is working together! It’s the combined actions of individuals working together that demonstrates the beauty of teamwork.
This is exactly what Paul was teaching the church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians when sharing about unity within the body of Christ.
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” - 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 NIV
Paul explains that the church consists of many parts, which inherently brings differences. In our society today, differences are often used to divide us. However, Paul teaches us to live counter-cultural and instead acknowledge our differences, for this is exactly how God has made us.
“But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted.”- 1 Corinthians 12:18
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”- Psalm 139:13-14
What I have found is that when we focus on the things that make us different, we are more likely to let our differences come between us. However, if we focus on what we have in common we can relate to one another, fostering unity. Let’s go back to the first scripture I shared – 1 Corinthians 12:12-14. What does the Word tell us is shared by all believers?
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
The Holy Spirit!
Each of us, regardless of our role, is given the Holy Spirit, and it is through the Holy Spirit that we are equipped with spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:7) God equips us for what His “team” needs, with the common goal of building up the church. What better team to be on than that of Christ?
REFLECT: Why is it important that God created and gifted each of us differently? How can diversity lead to unity? How will you use your gifts this week to encourage others and build His Kingdom?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for making each of us different and unique. How boring it would be any other way! I pray that we will walk in our uniqueness, Lord, and that our differences strengthen and build Your Kingdom. Through our diversity, may unity reside and grace abound. We pray Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven! Amen.
As a former athlete, there is something special about being on a team. A team is made up of a group of individuals, each bringing their own unique skills and characteristics. Each member, using their own skills and gifts, works alongside each other to accomplish a shared goal - to catch a touchdown, score a goal, or shoot a basket. Everyone is working together! It’s the combined actions of individuals working together that demonstrates the beauty of teamwork.
This is exactly what Paul was teaching the church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians when sharing about unity within the body of Christ.
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” - 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 NIV
Paul explains that the church consists of many parts, which inherently brings differences. In our society today, differences are often used to divide us. However, Paul teaches us to live counter-cultural and instead acknowledge our differences, for this is exactly how God has made us.
“But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted.”- 1 Corinthians 12:18
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”- Psalm 139:13-14
What I have found is that when we focus on the things that make us different, we are more likely to let our differences come between us. However, if we focus on what we have in common we can relate to one another, fostering unity. Let’s go back to the first scripture I shared – 1 Corinthians 12:12-14. What does the Word tell us is shared by all believers?
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
The Holy Spirit!
Each of us, regardless of our role, is given the Holy Spirit, and it is through the Holy Spirit that we are equipped with spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:7) God equips us for what His “team” needs, with the common goal of building up the church. What better team to be on than that of Christ?
REFLECT: Why is it important that God created and gifted each of us differently? How can diversity lead to unity? How will you use your gifts this week to encourage others and build His Kingdom?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for making each of us different and unique. How boring it would be any other way! I pray that we will walk in our uniqueness, Lord, and that our differences strengthen and build Your Kingdom. Through our diversity, may unity reside and grace abound. We pray Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven! Amen.
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