A Devotion for Today: Diversity is Beautiful

Diversity is beautiful. Nothing says variety better than a colorful garden bursting forth with blooms for all to enjoy. God Himself is the author of variety and diversity.

The garden gracing my patio provides delightful beauty in variegated blooms. Sometimes the same flower in different colors or differing cultivars with a unique bloom. All created by God. Beautiful and fragrant to all who enter.

I used to carefully plant a favorite color scheme from one season to the next. Now my choices are random with lots of different unmatched colors coming together in a perfectly coordinated palate, each bloom complimenting the other.

Likewise, God has created each individual on earth with inherent differences. All unique with different qualities and gifts granted by the creator. All different counterparts to make up the whole of the human race. We are all “the favorite” and the apple of God’s eye. Each one precious in His sight.

Created in God’s own image, we are equals. All worthy of love and respect. None better than the other. Each one the beloved of God. Each one created in love and loved by the Creator.

Unity comes in diversity when we accept and appreciate ourselves and the differences and uniqueness in others.

Bible Verses for Today

“In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him.” (Genesis 5:1 KJ21).

“All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses. For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One.” (1 Corinthians 12:12 AMP).

The Body of Christ

“For the body does not consist of one limb or organ but of many. If the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not [a part] of the body? If the ear should say, Because I am not the eye, I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not [a part] of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where [would be the sense of] hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where [would be the sense of] smell? But as it is, God has placed and arranged the limbs and organs in the body, each [particular one] of them, just as He wished and saw fit and with the best adaptation. But if [the whole] were all a single organ, where would the body be? And now there are [certainly] many limbs and organs, but a single body. And the eye is not able to say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

But instead

But instead, there is [absolute] necessity for the parts of the body that are considered the more weak. And those [parts] of the body which we consider rather ignoble are [the very parts] which we invest with additional honor, and our unseemly parts and those unsuitable for exposure are treated with seemliness (modesty and decorum), which our more presentable parts do not require.

But God…

has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body, giving the greater honor and richer endowment to the inferior parts which lack [apparent importance], So that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it. Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct [each with his own place and function].

So God…

has appointed some in the church for His own use]: first apostles (special messengers); second prophets (inspired preachers and expounders); third teachers; then wonder-workers; then those with ability to heal the sick; helpers; administrators; [speakers in] different (unknown) tongues. Are all apostles (special messengers)? Are all prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God)? Are all teachers? Do all have the power of performing miracles? Do all possess extraordinary powers of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all—love].” (1 Corinthians 12:12-31 AMP).

God’s Whisper

Beloved, Come to the garden of creation. Behold the beauty of diversity in my creation. The earth boasts of differences on every horizon. Without differences there would be no vegetation on the mountain tops where the climate nurtures the pines, bears and other creatures not found in the plains. There is power in diversity of mankind. Each is different. Each individually gifted specifically by my hand to show forth my glory in the earth. So that my will be done on earth as it is in heaven.