The Set-Up:
Unity and diversity in the Body of Christ is a two-edged sword. While we want unity, we recognize that not everybody is like us. The challenge for each individual then is learning to value those who see life in the church different than I might while remaining unified.
We tend to want diversity until somebody doesn’t agree with us. For example, if you were to set a basketball in the middle of a round table surrounded by people, each person would describe what they see from their view. None of them are wrong, but each person sees something different from their view. The temptation is to tell them their view is wrong or get irritated, but actually each individual is correct.
Jesus helps us listen to each other and find great value in each other’s insights. Diversity produces a healthy church body while division destroys. Unity and diversity are the ingredients to a healthy and thriving church body. Let’s learn to celebrate each person in our church.
Passage to Read:
Reflection Questions:
What challenges do you face in hearing other people’s insights?
What value do you find in diversity? What has created division?
What strengths do you see in your current church? What weaknesses have you experienced?
Prayer Idea:
Join together with others in your circle (or just one person) and discuss how to value each other. Encourage each other by sharing what strengths you see in them. Then, pray that each one of you would continue to grow in how to use their strengths to share the message of Christ.
This devotional was written by Tom Sipling.