You Are The Body Of Christ
As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
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!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that
seem to be weaker are indispensable, 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, while
our presentable parts need no special treatment. But 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.
1 Corinthians 12:20-27
Attend
any rodeo with riding and roping competition and you’ll see them—competitors
with four fingers on one hand and a nub where their thumb should be. It’s a
common injury in the sport—a thumb gets caught between a rope on one end and a
decent-sized steer pulling on the other, and the thumb is usually the loser.
It’s not a career-ending injury, but the absence of a thumb changes things.
Without using your thumb, try to brush your teeth or button a shirt or comb
your hair or tie your shoes or even eat. That little overlooked member of your
body plays a significant role.
The
apostle Paul indicates a similar scenario in the church. Those often less
visible and frequently less vocal members sometimes experience an “I don’t need
you” response from the others (1 Corinthians 12:21).
Usually this is unspoken, but there are times when it’s said aloud.
God
calls us to have equal concern and respect for one another (v. 25). Each and every one of us is a part of Christ’s body (v. 27),
regardless of the gifting we’ve received, and we need each other. Some of us
are eyes and ears, so to speak, and some of us are thumbs. But each of us plays
a vital role in the body of Christ, sometimes more than meets the eye.
If you’re an “eye,” what’s one way you could
encourage a “thumb”? And if you think you’re a lesser member, why not memorize 1 Corinthians 12:27, an
important scriptural truth.
Father, forgive us for our failure to remember that
each of us is a member of the body of Christ. We’re the members, and You and
You alone are the Head.
Our Daily Bread – March 7, 2020