But now indeed there
are many members,
yet one body.
Then eye cannot say
to the hand,
"I have no need
of you;"
nor again the head to
the feet,
"I have no need
of you."
No, much rather,
those members of the body
which seem to be
weaker are necessary.
And those members of
the body which
we think to be less
honorable,
on these we bestow
greater honor;
and our
un-presentable parts
have a greater
modesty, but our
presentable parts
have no need...
1 Corinthians 12: 20
– 24a
Paul in
this contrast of the different ministries with the different parts of the body
is exhorting us to remember that all parts are necessary and provided for His
purpose by God. Each member has its
form, place, and use. The parts that we
might determine, as less honorable in actuality have the same honor as all
other parts. By His outward
administration we are members of Christ's body and the operation of the gifts
provided by the Holy Spirit is the means appointed by God for our participation
in the great command to live according to His principles and to be ready to
give a defense for our faith and the spread of the gospel: "... But God composed the
body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should
be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for
one another" (1 Corinthians 12: 24b).
Just as when we participate and take that ordinance called the Lord's
Supper by taking a drink of the wine, and eating a piece of the bread we are
not drinking unto ourselves rather we are drinking into one Spirit. By this internal exercise, and not the
external exercise, that we partake into this one Spirit, and His sanctifying
influence. Now by this participation we
become true members of Christ's body, and by this one Spirit Christians are made
into one body not each one separate one from the other. As Christians, we are to be concerned and
care for other Christians just as we would do for any part of our body that is
in need of care. Just as when we have
contracted some illness, all parts of our body are often in this great stress
and we feel this illness even though other parts of our body are not actually
infected. When we feel in great shape,
are we not happy, and feel good?
Yes! If we are not caring for
one another within our congregations in particular then the congregation as a
whole suffers: "And if one member
suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the
members rejoice with it" (1 Corinthians 12: 26). Yes, it is true that each one of us are
individuals, yet, as individuals, or different members of the congregation, we
all are the body of Jesus Christ:
"Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually" (1
Corinthians 12: 27). How then, do
you see your self? Do you see yourself
as a member of the body of Christ along with other members who are also the
body of Christ? Do you feel as though
you do not have the education, or the knowledge, or even be of an age in which
you can no longer participate actively?
Do you feel as though you are too young? How do you view your self?
No matter who you are, or your age or your abilities, you are a member
of the body of Christ and have honor.
You can either use this honor to honor our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ,
or, you can use this to be an excuse to do nothing or very little. It is your choice! God will not pick you up and make you do it! You must act upon what you know and believe
in within your abilities. You can of
course, go to Bible studies, or study yourself at home, which I recommend by reading
books, even deep things as systematic theology books, or other commentaries,
and especially you can read the Bible.
You can pray that God will give you the strength and the clarity to
understand Him and His dispensation and economy. Or, you can make excuses for yourself, turn on the TV set back
and complain that you're not good enough so you won't do anything, or very
little. Are you as a converted
Christian completely devoted to Jesus Christ while you are here on earth
allowing Him to use you in whatever way possible. Don't allow yourself to be caught up in some sort of euphoric
emotional experience whereby you feel godly, no, remember that God wants to use
you in the way that you are usable. It
is in the use by God that you should feel the honor that God has bestowed
upon you by allowing you and choosing you to be a member of His body. This is a great thing about God He uses each
and every one of us with all of our infirmities, problems, the various
consequences that we either are enjoying or suffering due to our choices, and yet He thinks so highly of you and me, that He will still use us in His service. God does not look down upon you for what you
lack, rather He will give you what you lack if you only ask Him. Did he not say, "ask and you shall
receive?" You may have to knock
more than once, and you may have to pray more than once, but God will give to
you that which you need for His service.
We ask, we knock, we seek, His will, not for those things that may not
be according to His will. What else do
you need? Are you not an eternal person
because you are a member of the body of Christ? If so, then there is nothing you need outside of His will. Remember this very important thing: YOU ARE
A CHILD OF GOD: YOU ARE THE BRIDE OF JESUS CHRIST'S. Praise God!
O greatest of days, when I shall hasten to that divine
assembly and gathering of soul, and when I shall
depart from this crowd in the rabble of life!
Cicero, De Senectute, 23: 85
Remember who and whose you are
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