Unity through diversity

Lily Cathcart February 12, 2026 2 1

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1 Corinthians 12: 1-14 (NIV-UK)

1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

How is it that God calls us all to be salt and light to the world and yet doesn’t make us all the same? How am I supposed to do the same job as someone with completely different skills, personality or experience? Well… the answer is that I’m not, I can’t, and today’s passage from Corinthians reminds us that we are not designed to. 

Humans are creatures of a diverse and wonderful earth. It is only natural that we are diverse and wonderful ourselves! As different as a lion is from a tiger, as a butterfly is from a moth, as an evergreen tree is from a deciduous one. God is not surprised by this, it’s all part of the plan.

So as you explore God’s world today why not notice all the difference around you and thank God for it. Notice the trees and the people, notice the habits, the kindnesses; the little ways we shape our world, and thank God for each other.

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you that you know every inch of creation

Thank you that you plan for our differences and skills

Help us to be you in this world

Help us to see others as you as well

Amen