14 Aug. God's gifts shared among the body of believers
"A person's body is only one thing, but it has many parts. Though there are many parts to a body, all those parts make only one body. Christ is like that also."
"Some of us are Jews, and some are Greeks [Gentiles]. Some of us are slaves, and some are free. But we were all baptised into one body though one Spirit. And we were all made to share in the one [Holy] Spirit."
"The human body has many parts. The foot might say, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body.' But this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body... If each part of the body were the same part, there would be no body. But truly God put all the parts, each one of them, in the body as he wanted them. So then there are many parts, but only one body..."
"Together you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of that body. In the church God has given a place first to apostles, second to prophets and third to teachers."
"Then God has given a place to those who do miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who can help others, those who are able to govern, and those who can speak in different languages."
"Not all are apostles. Not all are prophets. Not all are teachers. Not all do miracles. Not all have gifts of healing. Not all speak in different languages. Not all interpret those languages."
"But you should truly want to have the greater gifts."
(1 Corinthians 12:12-31)
Here Paul explains that, like a human body, the body of believers (the "body of Christ") is made up of lots of different parts, each of which has a unique role.
Each believer has different gifts and all of them are essential to form the complete body of Christ. So believers should respect each other’s gifts, and not feel that their gifts are superior or inferior to someone else's gifts.
Paul then goes on to list some of God's gifts shared by those in the body of Christ: “In the church God has given a place first to apostles, second to prophets, and third to teachers. Then God has given a place to those who do miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who can help others, those who are able to govern, and those who can speak in different languages” (1 Corinthians 12:28).
Paul says that believers shouldn't expect to have all these gifts. Not everyone, for example, is an apostle, a prophet or a teacher. But Paul reminds the Corinthians that no one is devoid of the gifts of the Spirit - so they should all "truly want to have the greater gifts." (1 Corinthians 12:31).
The photo shows a teacher conducting a theology class in Kenya (Africa Inland Mission).
You can read more from Paul's First letter to the Corinthians @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/14-pauls…/spiritual-gifts/