Differences
What gifts do you have to share?
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. - Romans 12:1-8
Today's reading celebrates our differences.
We are not all the same, though we come from the same basic stock. To each of us is given uniqueness in character, strength, will, and thought. And from these all our actions come.
Some say we are the product of our environment, but while the environment can shape us, it is our nature that helps us overcome the environmental forces that could hold us back or even lift us up.
What we choose to bring to the game matters, and I believe that is the point in today's reading. If we choose to bring our gifts and talents to the fore, we can do amazing things with them.
And when we join forces with others who bring their gifts, we are even greater.
At times like these when we feel shut off and isolated form one another, we need to remember that God made us to be members of one body, working together for the good of all, not to be alone and totally self sufficient.
We need one another, especially now.
So, we are learning how to come together despite our distances, and maybe we will develop a new sense of community that is not limited by space, but is truly guided by the Spirit.
Come, and bring those gifts God gave so we can share and make a difference.
It sure beats being alone.
More to come...