In I Corinthians, Paul tells us that the Spirit gives each person gifts which are to use to help the community of God and God’s kingdom.  Paul says they are worth nothing without love. Paul explains that while the gifts may differentiate us, they also unite us in one Spirit and purpose. There is great beauty in the idea that we are united by God and yet each given different gifts and encouraged to express our own individuality, so long as we are using our gifts in love for the common good of the community.  Diversity in a unified goal or family is beautiful and brilliant.  God is a God of relationships.  God calls us each into community.  God wants us to be in relationship with others.  What better way to ensure that than to give us only a portion of what is needed?  Each person in our community has a necessary gift for the whole, but no individual has all the necessary gifts.  Therefore, to succeed, we must be in community and work together, using all our gifts to bring about our common mission in the Spirit.  And, until we learn to live and work in community, in relationship, God’s plan cannot be realized.  God has given us the necessary tools and is, at the same time, encouraging and teaching us how to love and work together. In I Corinthians 13:13, Paul writes, “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love” (NRSV).

Read I Corinthians 13:1-13, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally!

Annie

Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13