Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, let’s parallel team diversity.

Today’s scripture, Galatians 3:26-28 (NLT) says…
[26] For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. [27] And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. [28] There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Consider…
Most teams are made up of a variety of individuals with diverse skills and abilities. One thing good teams have in common, is that all the different individuals work well together to achieve the shared goal.

That’s what I think of when I read Ephesians 4:2-6 (NLT). It says…
[2] Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. [3] Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. [4] For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. [5] There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

Reading this scripture again revealed a new insight. The Holy Spirit took me back to Genesis 1:26-27 NLT
[26] Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us…” [27] So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

The ‘us’ God is referring to is…

• God the Father
• God the Son
• God the Holy Spirit

One God, with three dinstinct persons made humans in His image.

Now let’s circle back to Ephesians 4:4 & 6, which says…

• One body, where Jesus Christ is the Head
• One Spirit, who lives inside of us
• One God and Father of all

The Triune God is all in and through His diverse team.

Also in the Ephesians 4 passage, we see the shared beliefs articulated in three distinct ways. Verse 5 says…

• One Faith
• One Lord
• One Baptism

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing the importance of one. However it’s not about being the one, but operating as one. Like a good offensive line works in harmony to protect the quarterback and provide running lanes for the running back, God wants His unified body to present the good news of His love and grace as one.

In order to accomplish His goal, God has chosen to use a diverse team of individuals with special skills and abilities that He gave them. Ephesians 4:7 (NLT) explains…
[7] However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

Here’s the key that must be remembered, each one is given a gift through Christ. I think we forget the fact that God gives us what He wants to use in His body.

I point this out because understanding that God gives us our talents, skills and abilities should make us grateful and appreciative of being chosen by Him to be part of Christ’s body.

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing we are only a PART…
Playing
A specific
Role for the
Team

…of the body. He underscored His emphasis with 1 Corinthians 12:17-22 (NLT), which says…
[17] If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? [18] But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. [19] How strange a body would be if it had only one part! [20] Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. [21] The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” [22] In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.

This passage, coupled with today’s scripture makes it clear that God wants us to recognize He values and desires diverse unity. We know that He does because His creation, including humans, is full of diversity. For example, there are oak, cedar, pine, redwood, palm and willow trees. Or think of the variety of dogs: Poodles, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Huskies, Chihuahuas, Pomeranian, etc…

God was intentional in creating a world full of diversity, with the shared purpose of glorifying and praising Him.

I like the way Psalms 104:24-31 (NLT) acknowledges God’s purposeful diverse creation…
[24] O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. [25] Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small. [26] See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea. [27] They all depend on you to give them food as they need it. [28] When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. [29] But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. [30] When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth. [31] May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!

Today, I encourage you to recognize and appreciate God’s intentional placement of diverse individuals, including you and I, in Christ’s body. I also hope this encourages you to appreciate the other diverse brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Holy Spirit is leading me to close with Colossians 3:12-17 (NLT), which says…
[12] Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. [13] Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. [14] Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. [16] Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. [17] And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Embrace God’s diversity and work in unity to make His Heavenly Kingdom Earth’s reality.

Today’s Song is…
We Are One

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)