Twin City church of Christ Blog
“May 2, 2024 - God Loves Variety”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsGod Loves Variety
Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
In the next three chapters, Paul will address the problem in Corinth with “spiritual gifts”(1 Cor 12:1), special abilities granted to Christians in this time by the Spirit. Some of the Corinthians disdained others who had “lesser” gifts, reinforcing the already present divisions there. Knowing that many of the Corinthians have a Gentile background (1 Cor 12:2), Paul wants to teach them what following God’s true Spirit is like. “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit”(1 Cor 12:3). What is notable here is that we discern messages by evaluating the content of the message rather than the emotional power of the delivery; only messages that reflect submission to Jesus should be accepted.
One striking feature of the spiritual gifts is their diversity. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone”(1 Cor 12:4-6). The actions look different, but the source is the same; they all come from a variety-loving God. Paul gives a list of the types of gifts he is describing (v. 8-10), stressing that each is a gift (rather than something innate in the person) given by the Spirit. “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills”(1 Cor 12:11). It all comes from God, so there is no room for boasting or condescension.
God loves variety. No two people have precisely the same personality or appearance. God did not make just one kind of animal or plant. There are multitudes of food flavors and musical varieties. When we want everyone to be the same—especially because we are jealous of what others have—we are going against the grain of God’s love of variety. A better path is to celebrate the multitude of expressions of God’s gift alive in such wildly different people.
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One Thing to Think About: How does variety show God’s goodness and power?
One Thing to Pray For: Eyes to see the beauty of God’s gifts to others—and myself
