Sunday Service 17 July 2005

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Love, or as it says in the King James, Charity.

We all have God's love. In us, toward us, and to share with others.

So how do we get so arrogant about our petty differences?

One of us may be better trained, one is taller, another is a teacher or preacher, one may be a bit smarter, or has a little more fashion sense. These may set us apart, but in reality we are so very close together in all things. 20 years of school vs 12 in a 70 year life, and the third grader may be more wise. 6' 4'' when average may be 5' 10'', a six inch difference that is not noticed when both stand next to a mountain.

You are not the equal of everyone, you are unique. But if everyone is unique, then there should be no superiority or inferiority in being one of a kind.

God made you the way you are for a reason. God knew that at some moment of doubt, you might come to him and ask, why? If you will listen, God will explain how you, just as you are right now, can accomplish what God wants from your life; and what will give you joy in living your life.

What you do with God's love right now is important. The actions you take next based on God's love and direction are important. Our small differences are just a tool that makes us appropriate to a task. A hammer is not superior to a saw, but if you have a job to do, it may be important to have both. We are tools in God's box, and he has given us tools to accomplish our job.

Your spiritual job may be like a carpenter. God may assign you a task of training the new guy, But your job is still carpenter. While training you may use a hammer and a saw, but your job is still as a carpenter, and you are still on task.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God that worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. I Corinthians 12:4-7

Read First Corinthians, the whole book. There is a reason that in those books where God talks about gifts that he leads up to them slowly, they are not the first thing you are exposed to.

Now just as your physical and mental differences are not a cause for exultation or abasement, so are spiritual gifts are not a cause for celebration, they are tools of love. You may also want to find our May 25, 2005 service about “decently and in order.”

But always in love:

And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. I Corinthians 13: 13

Jesus is Lord!

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