All too often, we misunderstand each other because we want to see everyone through our own narrowed lens of perception. As Christ ascended on high, he gave gifts to men. Although, Jesus Christ is the perfect embodiment of all the Spiritual Motivational Gifts, He gave the gifts individually within the family and the church. Since each of us may see the world through differing lenses, we need to learn how to see the whole body of the church clearly. This can only happen through understanding each other’s motivational gifts. Once we see the power and beauty of each gift, we can embrace the differences with open arms; realizing we need each other’s gift.
This is true both in the Church and in the family. When we combine the various gifts harmoniously, we develop a strong defensive line against attack by outside forces of any kind, including from satanic attack. For us to work harmoniously, we must first understand and appreciate, “where we are coming from”. That is why we find so much bickering and dispute within our families and our churches. When I first heard Charles Stanley’s series God’s Children Gifted for Ministry, it changed my dynamics within the family, among my friends, at church, at work and even how I see others I meet along this journey. Truly, United we stand, divided we fall.
ONE BODY MANY PARTS
As a unit, no member of the body is more important than another. It requires all the various members of the body harmoniously performing their unique part in an action. For a runner to train, he cannot say I will train my muscles; yet, forget the importance of his heart, lungs, eyes, ears, nose, skeletal system, brain and even arms. Each performs its own unique function, so the runner can perform at his or her best performance.
Paul wrote extensively about the variance in gifts and the importance of harmoniously working together in
1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-7 (TLB)
4 Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving. 6 There are many ways in which God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us who are his. 7 The Holy Spirit displays God’s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
12-22 (TLB)
12 Our bodies have many parts, but the many parts make up only one body when they are all put together. So it is with the “body” of Christ. 13 Each of us is a part of the one body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But the Holy Spirit has fitted us all together into one body. We have been baptized into Christ’s body by the one Spirit, and have all been given that same Holy Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And what would you think if you heard an ear say, “I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye”? Would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 Suppose the whole body were an eye—then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything?
GOD’S PLAN
18 But that isn’t the way God has made us. He has made many parts for our bodies and has put each part just where he wants it. 19 What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! 20 So he has made many parts, but still there is only one body.
21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 And some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary.
27 (TLB)
27 Now here is what I am trying to say: All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
In order for us within the family, within the church and within our community to live in harmony, we must learn to see the world through an other’s eyes. This only comes with knowledge and learning. We all need each other. We are stronger together than we could ever be alone. In a complex world, where evil lurks; we need unity to win. Wednesday, I will share how this worked out in my family.
CONCLUDING TWEETS
[tweetthis]if a kingdom be divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand Mark 3:24[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]25 And if a house be divided against itself that house cannot stand Mark 3[/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”Knowledge is the key to Harmony-We must take the time to humbly get to know each other” username=”effiedarlene”]
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
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The inscription I added Photo by Boris Smokrovic on Unsplash