If we limit ourselves only to people who think exactly like us, we’ll never grow or accomplish what God has in mind for us. Instead, we need to be surrounding ourselves with a whole range of people. We need people of different ages, different personalities, and different skill sets. We need people who will challenge our opinions sometimes. We need people who can teach us new things, and help us grow. We need people who are strong in our weak areas. Think of the people Jesus picked to be His followers. Luke was a doctor, and Peter and John were fishermen. Jesus needed them all to accomplish His mission. Everyone is unique, and everyone can offer something different. We all have our own role to play. So we should be complementing each other, not competing with each other. The body of Christ analogy (which you can read about in 1 Corinthians 12) sums it up perfectly. Each part of our human body is needed, but they are all different. The Bible says: ‘If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?’ (1 Corinthians 12:17 NIV). We all have different skills and personalities, but they all work together and are needed. Who are we to judge other people, or decide that they have nothing to offer us? The Message version of the Bible says: ‘Everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.’ Let’s be inclusive, welcoming and encouraging. Let’s grow and learn from each other, rather than comparing. Let’s celebrate our diversity.

What Now?

Next time you’re at church, try and have a conversation with someone you’ve never spoken to before.