God’s Glory–Together
Opening Prayer
Lord, help me to draw all my life from You and then to bring Your life to the world.
Read 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-20
[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. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you see yourself as a part of a whole?Notice how Paul repeats the words “one” and “all” (12-14). He is utterly convinced that anyone baptized by the Spirit has received from the same Spirit and therefore is part of the one unifying body. The body metaphor has been used elsewhere to illustrate how a hierarchy works–the head holds the highest status, all other parts have less significance. Paul turns this on its head in writing to the Corinthian church divided by status and social standing. No one part is more important than another. Each part is interdependent and the different parts are essential for wholeness. One big mouth, however large and loud, has limited use. This develops Paul’s emphasis on the variety within God’s people (4-11).This is how the creative God intends his people to bond together (18-20). To identify the wrists or nose within any one fellowship would be taking the metaphor too far! But to ensure that each person knows they belong with a significant and essential role is surely possible. In affirming God’s intention, glory will be given to him.
Apply
Pray that every member of your church would know how much they are valued and loved.
Closing prayer
Jesus, You went to the cross with the prayer of unity on Your lips. Let us join You in that prayer.
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