Voltron (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

Devos.HipHop

Stephen the Levite || The Last Missionary

If ever there were a cartoon that vividly depicted what the Church looks like, Voltron would be it. For those not familiar with the premise of the Saturday morning cartoon, there are five individuals of different backgrounds & skill sets who work together to stop the forces of evil throughout the galaxy. These five operate robotic lions, which also have their own unique abilities; yet, when the evil forces are too mighty, these five are able to bring their lions together to form the supremely powerful Voltron.

The Church functions in much the same way as the characters in Voltron. Each of us is blessed by God with a unique set of talents that sets us apart from everyone else. Along with our talents, we are also given a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit at the moment we place our faith in Christ. Taken together, each Christian is equipped to work within the Church in a way that no one else can duplicate. This gifting allows many individuals throughout the world to operate in the same bodily function, say a pastor, yet each can do it in a way that is uniquely their own. Since every Christian has a spiritual gift, they are expected to use it for the edification of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:7). This means that every Christian should be performing some kind of spiritual service, no matter how big or small the role.

As 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 shows us, we each play a part and it may be different from someone else’s; but, that does not mean one is greater than another. While some gifts may play a more visible role, it is the behind the scenes ministry that keeps the entire body functioning. Even though we cannot see our kidneys or liver, like we can our hands or feet, our body cannot continue to function without these vital organs. Much like Voltron, we are more than capable of doing ministry on our own, but the Church is at its strongest when each individual part comes together to make up the whole. A local church cannot function with just a pastor-teacher; it needs every spiritual gift functioning in unison to run smoothly & be most effective.

The Church is a “unified body transformed, guided by the head,” who is Jesus Christ. He brings us from all walks of life so we can come together and be his earthly vehicle for sharing the gospel. Since this is true, we ought to make sure we are doing everything we can to operate a strong & healthy body. If you aren’t presently serving within the body, why not? Do you know what your spiritual gift is? If not, pray that the Lord might reveal it to you so that you can begin playing your role as a part of the greatest living organism that God ever created.

Dig Deeper

1. What can we learn from Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-9? How did Paul and Apollos view themselves compared to one another?
2. According to Ephesians 4, why is unity within the Church important? What can we do to make sure we’re all individually working toward unity?
3. Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. Why are we given spiritual gifts, and why don’t we all get the same gifts? Do you know what your spiritual gift is?

Purchase

Download

Download Podcast Episode

Background music: Stephen the Levite “Rehoboam (Instrumental)” from album The Last Missionary – courtesy of Lamp Mode Recordings