Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The text for today’s meditation is 1 Corinthians 12 1-11

This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. ² You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit. ⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. ⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸ For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills…²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

(Play a snippet of Sesame Street Theme song)

Welcome boys and girls today we are going to learn about same and different. Here to teach us about same and different are Elmo and Abbey.

(Show Sesame Street clip of Elmo & Abbey – Same and Different)

We teach our children very early about same and different. The differences between Elmo and Abbey are obvious but they are the same in many ways, one of which is they are made the same, they are Muppets. Another way they are the same is they are the creation of Jim Henson. The Apostle Paul had to teach the Christians at Corinth the meaning of same and different regarding their spiritual giftedness.

The Corinthian Christians knew all too well how they were different from one another in terms of their spiritual giftedness. The problem is they saw the differences as a means to elevate themselves over others. They saw a hierarchy in the gifts and attributed that elevated status to themselves as the one with the gift. The Corinthian Christians had become separatist and very cliquish. They saw their gift as a means for personal and group prestige.

What the Corinthian Christians failed to see is they had no reason for personal pride in their varied gifts because they are empowered by the same Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit gave each of them their gift and empowered the gift. Kind of like Elmo and Abbey who were both Muppets and therefore empowered by the person or persons moving them, all of the Corinthian’s gifts were empowered by the same Holy Spirit and not of themselves. They forgot that it was a gift and it was not of themselves.

We too frequently elevate ourselves over others as being more spiritually elite. We too forget that everything comes from the Holy Spirit and not from within our self. We take personal pride instead of giving all glory to God who gave us the gift.

As Christians, we share the same background. We were separated from God through original sin. And like the Christians in Corinth who "were led astray to mute idols" we were all led astray by our mute idols. Our idols are different than theirs but none the less idols, money, sex, fame, job, house, car, sports.

As Christians, we are all the same. We are the same because we are all empowered by the Holy Spirit to have faith. It is the faith from the Holy Spirit through your baptism that allows you to confess that Jesus is Lord as it says in verse 3, "no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit."

As Christians, we are all the same. We are the same because we are empowered by the same Holy Spirit to carry out our distinctive spiritual giftedness and calling. Hear again what verse 4 through 6 say, "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone." We have the same Spirit, same Lord, and the same God from whom we get the ability for our giftedness.

The fact that we Christians are the same in these matters allows no room for pride or preferential treatment. We are the same in the Holy Spirit and therefore are not in a hierarchy as the Corinthian Christians placed themselves. No, we are the same in the Spirit just as they were. You are sinful and at times pride finds its way in. In repentance with a contrite heart you can go to the same God, the same Lord, and the same Spirit and receive forgiveness through the message of the Gospel. You can turn away from the sin and idols and turn toward the Holy Spirit to receive the message that your Lord, Jesus Christ, suffered, died, was buried, and rose from the dead so that you would be forgiven. We all can turn toward the same Spirit for the same forgiveness. We are the same, sinful and full of pride but through the same Spirit that empowers our giftedness we receive the same forgiveness.

Just as Elmo and Abbey were different, we too are different. We have different abilities and aptitudes with which God Gifted us. Paul announces that there is a variety of gifts, services, and activities. These are the gifts that are exhibited by us who are Christians.

Paul identifies various gifts bestowed by the Spirit, such as wisdom, knowledge, and heroic faith. As it says in verse 11, "All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills." It is by the will of the Holy Spirit and not our own that we are able to use these gifts. We have done nothing and can do nothing to receive a specific gift. We can only use the gift which the Spirit sees fit to give you.

Why is it we have these gifts? Is it for our own personal pride as the Corinthian Christians thought? Is it to make us feel closer to God? We have these many diverse gifts for the unity of Christ’s church. We have the different gifts for the "common good" of the church. We are the body of Christ. Each of us has a role to play and a function to keep the body growing. We all have our distinctive gift to use for the good of the body. The Body of Christ is here to serve our neighbor. You have a distinctive gift given you by the Spirit for the purpose of serving and edifying others. Now go, go, use that gift bestowed upon you by the Spirit. Use your distinctive gift to serve your neighbor as a part of the body of Christ.

There is a note for you at the end of the chapter. "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way." We don’t all have all the gifts but you may have different gifts at different points in your life. Desire to do God’s service at a higher level. Use the gift you have and desire more and God will show you a more excellent way. The more excellent way is the way of God’s love. By using your gift you not only show others God’s love but He shows you His love as well.

As Elmo and Abbey said we are the same and we are different. Don’t let your differentness overcome your sameness. Notice Elmo and Abbey found they were the same in their body. We are the body of Christ and are the same in our body because we were brought into this body through faith. We are one, we are the body of Christ sent to serve our neighbor. Use your gift to serve God and your neighbor.

Amen.