What a way to break my silence!
In case you haven't noticed, this is my first article for 2022. 5 months into the year and no articles. This is the first year that this has happened. I have been beating myself up about this because there was a time I used to publish weekly. I could go on and on about this, but this is a conversation for a later time
Recently, I was diagnosed with dry eyes. The doctor mentioned it could be due to the environmental change from Florida to Nevada or increased screen time. In my case, it has to be a combination of both. I haven't been writing much this year, and all of a sudden I want to focus on writing when I am supposed to rest my eyes. I remember after my eyes were dilated, my vision was blurry. I needed to text, I needed to do all the things in the world. My entire body suffered through this period.
This diagnosis made me think about all other parts of my body. My eyes were unwell, but all of a sudden everything else suffered. I couldn't use my hands to journal because I needed my eyes. I wanted to go for a walk, but my eyes needed rest. I never appreciated my eyes that much until I had to put on eye drop 6 times a day.
This made me think about the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:1-30 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Unity and Diversity in the Body Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
The word clearly says that all parts are important, but for some reason, some parts are more desirable than others. Some people are really great at cleaning and organizations; they can see the little dust that you and I would miss. Without their great eyes and cleaning abilities, the guests/church members wouldn't have a great service. I believe some people's smiles are just blessed. Just one smile can make you feel so welcome that you would come back. Some can sing, some have an eye for graphic design, some have the gift of healing, some tongues, yet some faith. Together, the people we see on the platforms and the ones behind the scenes make the body (the church) function properly.
I love the old testament. I remember when God explicitly listed the different tasks based on the different skills he had blessed his people with (Exodus 31:1-11). This is not something new yet we still think some gifts are more important than others. One function that is near idolatry is ministry/pastor. Pastors are to be respected, but not worshiped. Before any titles, we are disciples of Christ who needs to make more disciples.
My prayer for you today is that you will see clearly and show respect and appreciation to the pastor, greeter, and the person you see cleaning. We are one BODY in Christ. Our gifts are unique, but they all complement each other. One is not better than the other. I pray that God will bless you with spiritual gifts; may he reveals himself to you.
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Xoxo,
DD
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