1 Cor. 12:13 "Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free..."
Paul is talking about gifts from the Holy Spirit and unity within the church (a very big issue for the first century church) and he compares the church to an actual physical body. He says each person has been given a certain gift from God and every gift is important. He compares the church to a human body and says just as every part of a body are important and essential to a human, so is every member of the church. Without one part, the whole part suffers. He states clearly, some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, some are free.
This contrast of Gentile and Jew, slave and free, hit me today. We think we have divisions in the church, but I can't imagine if we had Jews in our church (we don't) or slaves (thank goodness we don't). If the first century church can exist and find a way with these very different and opposing types of groups, we should be able to figure it out as well....whether we are Democrat or Republican, black or white, male or female, Baptist or Pentecostal. I need to do my part to promote unity within the church by praising all peoples and loving them all well. How can I do that today?
Dear Jesus, help me find common ground with other believers today. Amen.
