FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022
TEXT: 1
Corinthians 12:12-26
12. For
as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though
many, are one body-so also is Christ.
13. For
we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body- whether Jews or Greeks,
whether slaves or free- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14. So
the body is not one part but many.
15. If
the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” in
spite of this it still belongs to the body.
16. And
if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” in
spite of this it still belongs to the body.
17. IF
the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were an
ear, where would be the senses of smell?
18. But
now God has placed the parts, each one of them, in the body just as He wanted.
19. And
if they were all the same part, where would the body be?
20. Now
there are many parts, yet one body.
21. So
the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” nor again the head to the
feet, “I don’t need you!”
22. On
the contrary, all the more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are
necessary.
23. And
those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe these
with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation.
24. But
our presentable parts have no need [of clothing]. Instead, God has put the body
together, giving greater honor to the less honorable,
25. so
that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have
the same concern for each other.
26. So
if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is
honored, all the members rejoice with it.
(Holmans
CS Holy Bible)
TOPIC: ONE
BODY WITH MANY MEMBERS
After Paul addressed the
problem of different gifts, he turned to speak about the relationship of each
recipient with others within the church. The Church is likened to a human body
which has many parts that form a whole. But when part is missing, the entire
body cannot function well (v. 12).
Christians need one another
as much as the parts of the human body need one another to function
effectively. The unity in the body makes each part depend on the other parts
for its health and effectiveness. They all belong to one body (vs. 13, 14).
Anything contrary to complimenting one and the other in functioning leads to
ill health in the whole body.
Paul emphasized: “The
Corinthian church would be healthy if its members behaved like a human body by
being united and allowing for variety among members as the Spirit moves them in
serving the body” (see 1 Thessalonian 5:11).
Members with special abilities
should realize that the same Holy Spirit of God gave to others what they may
consider of less importance. The Apostle says: “No! Much rather, those members
of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary” (vs. 22, 26). Christians
must see one another as members of the same Body of Christ and not as rivals so
that they would serve Him in unity.
QUESTION: How
many parts make a human body and how should they function?
PRAYER:
Grant me, O Lord, the grace to see myself as a member of Your body and serve in
unity with others, in Jesus name, Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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