The Kaleidoscope

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4–6

Last month, in our devotional – Joy from Faithfulness – we thought about being faithful to the kingdom of God by investing in the talents that He gave us. Today, I want to take a step back and think about the wide variety of talent that is visible through all of us, and what that tells us about the character of God.

Whether you are a builder, a teacher, care-giver, engineer, artist, counsellor, organiser, gardener, crafter, leader, cook – these are all dimensions of who God is, and He has chosen to display His character through us. We are part of His creation and all creation displays the wonder and beauty and personality of God.

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them… Romans 12:6a

God is so vast, so multifaceted, that it takes all of humanity to reflect even a fraction of who He is. This is why we need each other. No single person can display the full character of God – we’re each given a different piece of the picture. When we come together and utilise our gifts, we create a more complete portrait of our Creator.

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7

We can sometimes dismiss our gift, not seeing it as important because we mistakenly compare it with the talents of others. But when the apostle Paul described the body of Christ and its many parts, he highlighted this truth – each part is necessary; each one is valuable. So, when we dismiss the gift that God has given us, we are dismissing part of God’s own character in our lives.

The next time you are in church, think about the variety of people you see and talk to: The person who greets you at the door, the worship team, AV team, Sunday school teachers, those who take care of the little ones, the person who hugs you and asks about your week, those making tea & coffee. Each person is giving us a glimpse of the amazing facets of God’s infinite nature because every talent that we possess is a dimension of who God is.

We are a kaleidoscope of beautiful coloured pieces that displays the depth of the intricate character of Almighty God.