Unbreakable Joy: A diverse body

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

A diverse body

How successful could a football team be which was comprised only of linemen, or only of quarterbacks, or only of wide receivers, or only of kickers. The idea that such a team would even exist is quite foolish. The success of a football team depends on the existence of and embracing of the different talents, giftings, and expertise of it's diverse members.

How could a body function if it consisted of only a bunch of hands, or only a bunch of eyes, or only collection of brains, or only abundance of mouths?

The Apostle Paul used such an example when referring to the diverse body of believers in 1st Corinthians 12.

1Corinthians 12:14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 12:15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 12:16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 12:18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 12:19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 12:20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 12:21 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."

Keep this in mind the next time you may be tempted to think you're not quite like the others (I'm writing to myself here also), the next time you think that they are not quite like you, the next time you find yourself or others not quite fitting into the molds that you or others have fit into.

The diversity displayed in all creation highlights the Lord's delight in diversity. Snow flake differs from snow flake, fingerprint differs from fingerprint, and God's people differ from each other in personality, giftings, experience, and expertise.

I am very grateful for the diverseness within the body of Christ. Many people, dissimilar though they may be, have strengthened, encouraged, and otherwise helped me to grow in Christ.

Enjoy God's creativity as displayed in the diversity of His people.

3 comments:

cgl said...: Often it is only the wide receivers working.; December 18, 2007 at 9:12 AM
Unbreakable Joy said...: Maybe this is what's wrong with the Lions?; December 18, 2007 at 11:13 AM
cgl said...: I know one lineman in particular who is as lazy as can be. What a waste...but speaking of the Lions I will be at the game on Sunday!; December 19, 2007 at 9:33 AM

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Noteworthy Quotes

Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly so worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord.
- George Mueller

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.
- C.S. Lewis

A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, a spiritual man is hard on himself and easy on others.
- A. W. Tozer

Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in Thee.
- Augustine

All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.
- Blaise Pascal

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
- Jim Elliot

Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
- C. S. Lewis

He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake.
- Augustine

The men of this world are children. Offer a child an apple or a bank note, and he will doubtless choose the apple.
- John Newton

In the end the heart longs not for any of God's good gifts, but for God Himself. To see Him and know Him and be in His presence is the soul's final feast. Beyond this there is no quest. Words fail. We call it pleasure, joy, delight. But these are weak pointers to the unspeakable experience.
- John Piper

God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Him, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
- C.S. Lewis

It is well that we accept the hard truth now: The man who would know God must give time to Him. He must count no time wasted which is spent in the cultivation of His acquaintance. He must give himself to meditation and prayer hours on end. So did the saints of old, the glorious company of the apostles, the Godly fellowship of the prophets and the believing members of the holy church in all generations. And so must we if we would follow in their train.
- A.W. Tozer

If God contains the fullness of all good things in Himself like an inexhaustible fountain, nothing beyond him is to be sought by those who strike after the highest good and all the elements of happiness.
- John Calvin

God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him.
- John Piper

God glorifies Himself toward the creature in two ways; by appearing to their understanding, and in communicating Himself to thief hearts and their rejoicing in and delighting in Him, and enjoying manifestations He makes of Himself. God is Glorified not only by His glories being seen, but by it’s being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it God is more glorified than if they only see it. His glory is then received by the whole soul, both by the understanding and by the heart. God made the world that he might communicate and the creature receive His glory, and that it might be received both by the mind and the heart. He that testifies His idea of God’s glory doesn’t glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it.
- Jonathan Edwards