Friday's Follow-up
Versus
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Unity and Diversity in the Body
God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
~ Apostle Paul
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 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? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Pondering Point
Likely we have all seen someone or experienced for ourselves walking with a limp because one part of the body is suffering. When we are practicing body life, we will naturally suffer with those who are suffering, being one in spirit with them. We will also naturally (in the spirit) rejoice with those who are rejoicing. The whole body celebrates good things and the whole body deals with difficult things. That is body life in Jesus.
Prayer
Lord, help us be Your body rather than our own lesser version. Amen.
Micro-Moment of Discipleship
Considering how the Body of Christ functions, part one (of two)
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts… So it is with Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)
Knees and other joints allow the body to be flexible in helpful ways while at the same time staying unyielding in ways that would be unhelpful for the body to move. It is important for the body of Christ to have people who keep us flexible in all the right ways. Pause and think of those who serve like knees and elbows in your church; then thank God for them enabling the church to be flexible in the right ways.
God arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them (1 Corinthians 12:18).
Muscles are parts of the body that help the church move in order to carry out actions that channeled from the mind of Christ. There are many different muscles for the various tasks of the body. Without muscles, the work of God simply remains in the idea stage. Who are the people who get things done in your ministry? Thank God for them helping move the church.
There should be no division in the body (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Bones: Skeletal bones provide necessary structure to enable to muscles to move the body. Certain people are gifted to build and sustain the structure and organization of the church. Hope’s Board of Directors help provide such structure for ministry. Who else helps provide structure for your church? Thank God for them enabling the church to be organized and constructed well.
its parts should have equal concern for each other.
(1 Cor 12:25)
Lungs: This body part helps bring necessary oxygen into the human body to enable it to operate as intended. Certain people in the church are used by the Holy Spirit to inspire or breathe encouragement to the life into the church. Pause and think of those who operate like lungs, bringing helpful encouragement to the muscles doing work; thank God for them being “inspirational”.
Prayer
Father God, I take time in this moment to thank You for those people in the body of Christ who inspire us and who keep us moving in godly direction. Thank You for those who provide necessary organization without which healthy movement is difficult. Finally, thank You for those who keep us flexible as Your people. Bless us all to work together to Your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.