1 Corinthians 12:7-12 – To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (NRSV)

I love sailing, and I love racing. We have dedicated positions as part of the crew. I am on the mainsail. Others can be found in the cockpit around me, others are at the mast, while still others are responsible for the bow, and of course, the captain is at the helm. All of us have our jobs to do. In a race, we often find ourselves helping with another position and then returning to our main responsibility. We all do what needs to be done in order to get the most out of the boat.

In the life of the church, we are gifted with talents to be used for the common good of all. Some of the gifts seem to be more important than others, but it takes all of the gifts, working together, to ensure that the church is, and becomes, everything that it is meant to be. This is what it means to be the body (the crew!) of Christ, with Christ at the helm.

The crew is ready for each and every race, prepared to use their gifts and talents, asking that others do the same, as together, we complete the course.

Prayer: God, we thank You that Your Spirit has gifted us with exactly what is needed for the work of Your church and the mission of Christ. We thank You that we are part of the church and crucial for the mission entrusted to us, working together in harmony to do the things that we are called to do. May Your blessing be on us today as we take our positions and prepare for the race before us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Kenn Stright <kennethstright@yahoo.ca>
West Petpeswick, Nova Scotia, Canada
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