Unity in Diversity
God has different ways of working, and He has different workmen
to whom He entrusts varied gifts. One worker may be a ready speaker;
another a ready writer; another may have the gift of sincere, earnest,
fervent prayer; another the gift of singing; another may have special
power to explain the word of God with clearness. And each gift is to
become a power for God, because He works with the laborer. To one
God gives the word of wisdom, to another knowledge, to another faith;
but all are to work under the same Head. The diversity of gifts leads
to a diversity of operations; but “it is the same God which worketh all
in all.” [
1 Corinthians 12:6
.]
The Lord desires His chosen servants to learn how to unite in
harmonious effort. It may seem to some that the contrast between
their gifts and the gifts of a fellow-laborer is too great to allow them
to unite in harmonious effort; but when they remember that there are
varied minds to be reached, and that some will reject the truth as it
is presented by one laborer, only to open their hearts to God’s truth
as it is presented in a different manner by another laborer, they will
hopefully endeavor to labor together in unity. Their talents, however
diverse, may all be under the control of the same Spirit. In every word
and act, kindness and love will be revealed; and as each worker fills
his appointed place faithfully, the prayer of Christ for the unity of His
followers will be answered, and the world will know that these are His
disciples.
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In loving sympathy and confidence God’s workers are to unite with
one another. He who says or does anything that tends to separate the
members of Christ’s church, is counterworking the Lord’s purpose.
Wrangling and dissension in the church, the encouragement of suspi-
cion and unbelief, are dishonoring to Christ. God desires His servants
to cultivate Christian affection for one another. True religion unites
hearts, not only with Christ, but with one another, in a most tender
union. When we know what it means to be thus united with Christ, and
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