Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
—1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT
Rather than offering my insight on this passage, the amplified paraphrasing of this passage in Eugene Peterson's The Message is quite to the point: "By means of [Jesus'] one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which Jesus has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain — his Spirit — where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves — labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free — are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive."
Father, thank you for one place that all the barriers that divide us as human beings are supposed to fall away. Be with us, your people, and me in particular as your child, as we try to live out your plan for us, and may we by the power of the Holy Spirit see all distinctions that divide us fall away. May the Spirit within us mean more to us than our race, culture, nationality, politics, economic status, and family distinctions that so often divide us. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
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—1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT
Key Thought
Rather than offering my insight on this passage, the amplified paraphrasing of this passage in Eugene Peterson's The Message is quite to the point: "By means of [Jesus'] one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which Jesus has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain — his Spirit — where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves — labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free — are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive."
Today's Prayer
Father, thank you for one place that all the barriers that divide us as human beings are supposed to fall away. Be with us, your people, and me in particular as your child, as we try to live out your plan for us, and may we by the power of the Holy Spirit see all distinctions that divide us fall away. May the Spirit within us mean more to us than our race, culture, nationality, politics, economic status, and family distinctions that so often divide us. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
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