Different People, Same Mission
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
There is something incredibly powerful about believers using their individual gifts, backgrounds, styles, and flavors together as one body. We are called to be united, but not uniform. We are not fragmented, freelance believers; we are distinct yet interconnected limbs of a single body. Arms don’t operate alone, and feet don’t walk off in their own direction without the head. The eyes don’t decide to leave the face, and the hand doesn’t go off to do its own thing.
You were baptized into something bigger than yourself, called the Body of Christ. You didn’t just join a club; you became part of Christ’s body. Paul continued, writing, “We have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” The word drink isn’t a sip; it represents an ongoing, sustaining relationship with the Holy Spirit—a communion and connection. You and I are called to drink deeply, again and again, of His presence, His power, His wisdom. In the same way that the physical body needs water to survive, the body of Christ needs the flow of the Spirit to thrive.
The Holy Spirit isn’t building an organization; He is building a Body—a living, breathing, Spirit-filled and empowered Body. It is a Body where no person is disposable, no gift is without purpose, and no believer is overlooked. You need to plug in and find your place to serve and grow. Flow with the Holy Spirit and learn how to function by following the Holy Spirit together.
Practical Application
Look for opportunities to recognize the gifts being shown in others' lives. It’s easy to focus on ourselves and forget that we are a part of a Body. Refuse to make spiritual comparisons by celebrating others when God uses them.
