1 Corinthians 12:21-27
It’s safe to say all of us at some point have felt like we were in a fight with no help in sight -we felt alone, abandoned, just simply no help in sight. While that emotion is real, we see in today's passage that as believers we are called to be each other's support system. We see in the Bible that the body of Christ (believers) are like our human body, made up of many different parts. Different parts mean that each part has a different role, now all roles are important, but they may not do the same exact thing. As we know through living our life, when things don't necessarily work the same way, tension begins to form. Paul writes to the Church of Corinth and reminds them that the body of Christ all works together for the glory of Jesus Christ, no matter what part of the body you are. We see right off the get go Paul's example in verse 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!”
We must be careful in the American church that we are not becoming a church who pushes other believers away telling them we don't need them. Of course we would never say that, but I challenge you to see how your actions make other believers feel? Paul instantly goes into the next point that every part matters! We must understand that some people's roles may seem less important, but God gives value to every part of the body! It's easy to sit and think that whoever is preaching on Sunday has a bigger role to play than maybe someone doing the sound booth. However, that is not true at all, we all have a part to play no matter if it's in front of others or behind the scenes. In reality when you think about preaching on Sundays, if it wasn't for a tech team you probably wouldn't be able to hear the preaching. Every part matters! We must continue to create a culture that protects that as well as encourages that. Which leads to Paul's final point that we carry each other. We read in verses 25-26:
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.
When one person hurts, we hurt together. When one rejoices, we rejoice together! I simply ask you when was the last time you went up to another believer and asked them if you could pray with them? How about the last time you asked them what God was doing in their life? I challenge all of us to be an encouragement to one another. As believers we should want to lift each other up while also praising God for the good he is doing in others’ lives. Remember we are not just a single body but a part of a bigger body. So, I leave you with this simple takeaway: We weren't created to do Christianity alone. We are part of the body - and the body is stronger when every part is connected.ded.
We must be careful in the American church that we are not becoming a church who pushes other believers away telling them we don't need them. Of course we would never say that, but I challenge you to see how your actions make other believers feel? Paul instantly goes into the next point that every part matters! We must understand that some people's roles may seem less important, but God gives value to every part of the body! It's easy to sit and think that whoever is preaching on Sunday has a bigger role to play than maybe someone doing the sound booth. However, that is not true at all, we all have a part to play no matter if it's in front of others or behind the scenes. In reality when you think about preaching on Sundays, if it wasn't for a tech team you probably wouldn't be able to hear the preaching. Every part matters! We must continue to create a culture that protects that as well as encourages that. Which leads to Paul's final point that we carry each other. We read in verses 25-26:
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.
When one person hurts, we hurt together. When one rejoices, we rejoice together! I simply ask you when was the last time you went up to another believer and asked them if you could pray with them? How about the last time you asked them what God was doing in their life? I challenge all of us to be an encouragement to one another. As believers we should want to lift each other up while also praising God for the good he is doing in others’ lives. Remember we are not just a single body but a part of a bigger body. So, I leave you with this simple takeaway: We weren't created to do Christianity alone. We are part of the body - and the body is stronger when every part is connected.ded.
Posted in Devotional