“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)

I walk out to the apple tree.  Its thick trunk stands strong with the limbs straining under the weight of abundance.  I pluck off a big red apple.  Holding it in my hand, I consider all the potential this fruit holds within itself.  Although all the fruit looks alike, the potential is unique to each piece. It could end up pie on a dinner table, warm cider on a crisp fall day, or simply enjoyed just as it is off the tree.   Any use of the apple brings it to its full potential, its beneficial use.

The apple also holds the treasure of new life inside; seeds.  There are 5 compartments in the center of the apple that hold these seeds.  However, the number of seeds is relative to the vitality of the tree and varies from apple to apple.

Let’s consider for a moment that each member of the church is an apple.  Although we look alike in our humanness, we are all very unique in our gifting; our use of what God gave us to serve the body.  We will all live out our potential differently. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV), “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”   We are all part of One.

We also share the truth that, as believers, we all hold the same seed to life within us. The responsibility falls on us to spread our seeds of life through the sharing of the Gospel.  We will not all be gifted evangelists but we do have the same power to showcase the Gospel through our lives and actions.  Once the seed is planted, the work is then the Lord’s.

He grew the apple tree from a single seed and from that tree came many seeds.  He will do the same thing through us, if we let Him.

Father, Thank You for life through Your Seed, Jesus.  Thank you for equipping us to contribute as part of the church body and thank You for the opportunity to share life seeds with those who don’t know You. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.