This week’s devotions are based on “We’re in this Together!” (WATCH HERE)
Legos were designed to be connected to others, yet not all Lego pieces are the same. If you buy a Lego kit, it doesn’t take long to realize that while some parts are the same, many are different. The sizes are different. The shapes are different. The colors are different. The use of the part is different.
Christians were designed to be connected to others, yet not all Christians are the same. They too come in different shapes, sizes and colors. But we also come with different talents, different experiences, different perspectives.
One would find it rather silly to imagine a discussion between Lego blocks that would pit one brick against another. It would seem obvious that the differences of Lego blocks would be important to build the Lego creation they were put together to create. If every block was the same size, shape and color, the creation would not be all that impressive.
However, among Christians, differences can sometimes be the catalyst for arguments, division, and discord in the body of Christ. We can subconsciously perceive that everyone should be the same as me or think the same or have the same perspective. We can be judgmental of someone who doesn’t have the same gifting or offer the same contributions. Or we can be jealous of others and wish that we were the same as someone else, ignoring the uniqueness and giftedness with which we have been blessed.
Yes, Lego bricks are different. Christians are different. But just like Lego bricks were designed to be different so they could combine with other different bricks, so Christians were designed to combine their uniqueness with other Christians to carry out the work of God as God designed it.
While we are different, we have a common Creator. Lego bricks all are made of plastic, have a connector knob on top and a corresponding receiving design on the bottom AND every authentic Lego block has the name “Lego” imprinted on it.
For Christians, we have some important similarities. We have one common Creator who not only made us physically, but redeemed us spiritually. We are unified by the saving work of Jesus Christ and simply have God’s name imprinted on us. None of us are Christian by our own choosing or effort, God made us his own and called us to be part of his kingdom and gave us the very gifts he wanted us to have to do the work he has prepared for us to do.
So just like building a Lego creation takes many different parts that all share a common creator, so in Christ, enjoy being part of the body of Christ, as different as you are, but share a common Creator and are given a common purpose.
Romans 12:4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
1 Corinthians 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Apply: Sometimes our differences of gifting can create division. What is one thing you can do to appreciate another person’s gifting and value it adds to the work of the body of Christ?
Prayer: Lord God thank you for making us all different, but unifying us by your grace around the saving work of Christ and the important work of the Body of Christ. AMEN.