Mark 3
24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Proverbs 27
17As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
1 Corinthians 12
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.6There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,10to 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.11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Unity and Diversity in the Body
12Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.13For we were all baptized byone Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.14Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?18But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.19If they were all one part, where would the body be?20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Necessary Differences
Did you know that every nation/business/team/organization needs people who think differently to be the best they can be? This is the power of diversity—people with diverse thoughts, opinions, and perspectives coming together to build something better.Jim Collins, in his book,Built to Last,says this about necessary differences:Enduring great organizations exhibit a dynamic duality. On the one hand, they have a set of timeless core values and purpose that remain constant over time. On the other hand, they have a relentless drive for progress—change, improvement, innovation, and renewal. Great organizations keep clear the difference between their core values (which never change), and operating strategies and cultural practices (which endlessly adapt to a changing world).He calls this dynamic duality the way to both “preserve the core”and“stimulate progress.” Using this terminology can help us better understand and appreciate the different dynamics at play in politics.Depending on the context, one side may place a higher value on “preserving the core,” while the other side may place a higher value on “stimulating progress.” These differences can be challenging because they will create disagreement, but these differences can also make us better.Without people fighting to stimulate progress, no group would ever make the changes needed to respond to a changing world. Without people fighting to preserve the core, groups would lose the core values and purpose that hold them together.These disagreements can make it easy to become so divided that it is hard to value the necessary differences the other side brings to the table. We’ve moved so far away from each other that we’ve stoppedtalking to each otherand mostly justyell at each other.Guess what? The people we disagree with are human beings trying to do the best they can with what they know. Are they right about everything? Nope. And neither are we. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s necessary.Diversity will create disagreement, but it doesn’t have to create division. Unity requires diversity. Without diversity, we’re stuck with uniformity.The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Church in Corinth beautifully illustrated the power of necessary differences. He used the image of a human body to describe the way the Church is intended to function. A foot is different from a shoulder, and an ear is different from a knee. The different body parts are what allow a body to function. If every part were an ear, you wouldn’t be able to walk, talk, eat, smell, or see. The different body parts are needed for the body to function properly.Differences are necessary. Differences make us better. Differences make us stronger.Understanding the necessary differences that we bring to the table is an important step toward unity and away from division.Pray:God, help me to see the necessary differences we all bring to the table. Help me to be open to the perspectives and ideas of others. Help me to move toward unity and away from division.
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