Unique presentation

As I took a walk this morning, I stopped to take pictures of some of the flower, trees and bushes that were sharing their beauty and color. When I first moved to New Mexico, everything was brown. It was the winter, so to be expected; although I found my scenery captivating, I did wonder if I would see colors other than desert brown, cactus green, and blue sky.

As I finished up my walk, I thought about the various species of flowers I saw in such a short time. They each had their own beauty, but expressed it in a unique way. Even the ones that shared the same color, looked vastly different from each other.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:4-11‬ ‭‬‬

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When I got home, I thought about how these flowers and trees did not end up there by accident, they were planted. So it is with God’s people.

“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, They will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green, To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Psalms‬ ‭92:12-15‬ ‭‬‬

We are called to use our unique gifts and abilities to edify the body of Christ. We are called to connect with a body of believers, as well as the Body of Christ. God plants is in churches so that we can work together in building His Kingdom.

We can’t do that when we are trying to be like our neighbor or trapped in comparison or envy. Our church body the world, needs our unique perspective and purpose.

“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:14-27‬ ‭‬‬

We serve a God who makes us unique for a purpose. There are people who need things spoken the way you speak. There are people who need to see your perspective, the unique way you handle things that come your way. You have a beauty that is God given for the world around you. You have gifts that God has given you to build His kingdom.