Paul's first concern for the church in Corinth was unity, and he began his letter with an appeal "that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment" (1Corinthians 1:10). And the same Spirit, too, and in chapter 12, he reminds them they have a variety of gifts, each distributed by the one Holy Spirit, and all for the common good, "for just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body" (1Corinthians 12:12).
The gifts he lists include wisdom, knowledge, faith, miracles, prophecy, and discernment (1Corinthians 12:8-10), healing and helping, administration and various kinds of tongues (1Corinthians 12:28), but there is an essential ingredient that binds them together in one body; "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends" (1Corinthians 13:4-8). Paul tells them what they are to do, but more importantly, he describes who they are to be. Nothing else will matter if you don't get this right
Daily Prayer
My God, Jesus Christ, Savior, You redeemed Your family, the church, and You are its head. We look to You for all strength, guidance, wisdom. You do not show favoritism, rather, to be first, You took last place. Teach us the same humility. May we be the first to take a knee and serve, lifting others up to Your glory.
May we be one in all things. When one hurts, we all suffer; when one succeeds, we all share the victory. One for all, and all for one, and God, you get the glory.
Amen
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