Celebrating uniqueness

I was in a meeting recently where there was a clear distinction between different personalities and even God given gifts. From the discussion it would seem some were either trying to become like others in the room (and becoming frustrated or disappointed in their “lack of___”) or trying to get others to come into their
particular gifting (“you just need to allow the Spirit to……………”). While I believe we need to allow the Spirit to move in and through us, this too can be frustrating at times. But what happens when we don’t sense the Holy Spirit moving in a particular situation; revealing the answer for either yourself or the person asking you for help; or when we don’t hear the Holy Spirit concerning the next move we should make? All the while He seems to be doing all these in others.

While I truly believe everyone’s motives were not to duplicate themselves in that meeting but rather be an encouragement for each other to think-out-of-the-box for new possibilities, let’s face it--it can be frustrating to not see ourselves or others in a spiritual gift we want to be in.

It was very clear at this meeting that hearts were touched by the message; they believed the message, stood in awe at the results of the message yet at the same time to fulfill the message would be a complete 180 in not only thinking but ‘doing’. It would take a complete overhaul of preconceived ideas so ingrained it would
shatter their world as they knew it. It was also very clear the Holy Spirit had been working in their hearts and lives moving toward this change. This too was frustrating.

Paul said in Corinthians we are all part of the body. An arm can’t pretend or act like an eye, or an ear like a foot, yet all are important for the healthy function of the body.
“It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person” should have (1Cor 12:11)
Paul then describes the functions of the body and makes this statement, “So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other…one suffers…all suffer…one is honored…all are glad.” (I Cor 12:24-25)

I started thinking how I treat others that are different than me. Do I honor those that wouldn’t ‘do as I would do’ or who aren’t as ‘spiritually mature’ as I am (said with tongue-in-cheek)? Whichever part I am, am I working in harmony with the others?
Encouraging them in their uniqueness and different thinking? For those who are acting less honorable do I try to clothe them with love, grace and mercy or expose them for who they are?
“In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care.”

God not only gives to each of us gifts and the ability to work in those gifts, he uses our personality through which those gifts take shape. Each of us is going to be different. It is the vehicle through which the world around us sees God in action.

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (Prov 27:16-18)
When we stop trying to mold fit but rather encourage one another in the uniqueness and richness God has created each of us for His glory to be seen, the body of Christ will once again become healthy.
There is friction in sharpening one iron with another…let us be careful not to stab one another in the process.