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 1 Corinthians 12 - One Body

        I love this chapter.  It’s exciting because it shows God’s character and it motivates us to get down to business.  The next chapter is the famous love chapter, but here in 12, we see love at work - God at work.  God, in unique ways, is working in all of us.  God is working in you today, right now.  The big picture is this, we are all part of the body of Christ.  Paul has this catchy saying that the whole has many parts, and the parts make up the whole (v. 12).  It’s a powerful picture, the truth of God’s people.  We are much more than Team Jesus.  Teams come and go.  Nay, we are one body, the Church of Jesus Christ.  His people.  His prized possession.

        There are different kinds of spiritual gifts and kinds of service (v. 4).  They are both from God and for God.  It is God alone who decides which gift each person should have.  Your gifts aren’t mine, and mine aren’t yours, but mine are to help you, and yours to me.  Good stuff, great stuff.

        Church, are we the Body of Christ, or not?  Why fight?  If we fight and cause divisions and knock each other down, we are cancer agents in the body.  We are here to help each other and God is clear here that our motives, our desires, should be pure: we must seek giftings and roles that can help the body the most.  It’s a totally different mindset that the me-first mindset of the world.

        At the outset, Paul makes it clear that you can’t understand your role in the body and any of this unless you know Jesus Christ: “no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit” (v. 3).  Do you know Jesus and have you accepted his gift of eternal life and forgiveness of your sin?  If so, confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

        Next time we can talk about the unique gifts God gives us and the special abilities and roles God bestows upon his children.  I can't wait.  Until then, remember that You are not alone.  Nor am I.  We need each other.  The Church of Jesus Christ functions as a body, with many parts reliant on each other.  We suffer together; we celebrate together.

        Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us.  Thank you for creating us, your prized possession.  May we not fool ourselves.  May we know our giftings and seek to know them more.   May we recognize today that each of us needs the help of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are in this together.  We need Your wisdom today, Lord Jesus.  Your protection and Your direction so that we may do the miraculous - for Your great honor and glory.  Please bless your people today, Lord Jesus.  Bless the worldwide Church with unity and harmony in the Body.  May we take our roles seriously and look to help others throughout the day.  Amen.


Dad with Arch and Colt.

Two workers.  Jack, and Papa Don.



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