Go Nuts Today!

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all”

New King James Version

October 22 is National Nut day if you didn’t know it. I have no idea how many different varieties of nuts exist in the world but I do know I have yet to meet a nut I didn’t like. Yet, the funny thing is this morning, when I saw that it was national nut day I didn’t think of almonds or pistachios, walnuts or pecans, I thought of people, family and friends who I love and enjoy.


“Variety is the spice of life” the old idiom goes. God has a better word for it. He calls it “giftedness”. Everyone has a different gift. We are like snow flakes science tells us, as no two people are alike. The apostle Paul put it like this in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, “4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” Obviously, God enjoys variety too.

How boring life would be if everything and everyone is the same. Imagine church life if everyone in the church was exactly the same. There is a quote I read years ago that I have never forgot that went like this, “If everyone in the church was just like me, what kind of church would the church be?” And I added on the end of it, “and would I even attend it?” The point the author of the book was making is that if we are all honest we enjoy fellowship with other believers because of the diversity each one brings. In Christ we share a oneness all the while remaining unique and distinct in both our giftedness and calling. It’s what makes the body of Christ so attractive.

The apostle Paul goes on in 1 Corinthians 12 to write,
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”

As the nation celebrates National Nut Day today I encourage you to celebrate your unique place in the body of Christ. Discover your gifts and appreciate the gifts in others today as variety really is the spice of life. Don’t let the world squeeze you into the mold of sameness. Instead allow God to use your distinctiveness to bring about the oneness the world so desires. Go nuts today!

“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually”

1 Corinthians 12:27 NKJV


I LOVE YOU!





Michael Osthimer

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