For just as the body is one and has many members, and all members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but many. – 1 Corinthian 12:12-14 (ESV)
I have been amazed once again this week at the way in which God chooses to accomplish His work on earth. Some of you may be aware that this week has been the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. I did not make arrangements to attend the convention this year but I did take advantage of the opportunity provided to listen to the live feed via the internet.
I heard reports from our various agencies, listened to the reports from our six seminaries, participated in inspiring worship segments, was challenged by the messages from God's word and also listened to several business sessions.
The thing that amazed me the most was the diversity of the messengers who were there representing our sister SBC churches. This diversity was evident on the platform as well as from the floor. I was given a great reminder of the fact that God has uniquely fit us together and equipped us to accomplish His Kingdom's work here on earth.
This is true about us as the SBC but it is also true of our local fellowship of believers. We are a diverse group of people that have been fitted together, gifted by God, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.
Paul penned a letter known to us as 1 Corinthians 12. In this passage Paul addressed the issue of Spiritual gifts. He stated that these gifts of the Spirit are given to each member of the body to be exercised for the common good (see 1 Cor. 12:7). This common good that Paul speaks of here is the same concept of unity that Luke spoke of in Acts 2:42-47 when describing the fellowship of believers in Jerusalem.
My prayer for us today is that we, as members of the body of Christ, would faithfully exercise our Spiritual gifts and fulfill our function within the local church for the cause of Christ. Is so doing, we will be found striving to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord to the glory of God the Father.
In Christ,
Brother Tim