One Body with Many Parts
12The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, Greek some are Greeks. some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Greek we were all given one Spirit to drink.
14Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
Years ago I developed a painful and disabling spinal problem. I could no longer work, play, or volunteer. Only appointments with doctors and various therapists broke up the long, lonely days at home. I felt that all my energy, time, and money were focused on me and my body. It seemed that I had nothing left to contribute to the world. Then, Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12 changed my perspective: “The members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” I marveled at how God can turn the world’s thinking upside down.
I learned that I was valuable and needed just as I was. God helped me see that I had the opportunity to serve Christ by sharing his love with all the healthcare workers who were trying to help me. They could know Christ’s love by the way I treated them, and I could pray for them and their work daily. An even greater insight, however, was that I was providing a way for them to serve Christ by helping me to heal. We need one another in the body of Christ. Weak and strong together, we can learn the importance of both giving and receiving God’s love.
No matter our limitations, we all can serve God by loving others.
Prayer
Prayer
O God, sometimes it is difficult to accept care from others. Help us to accept graciously your love shown through others and to be grateful for opportunities to share it as well. Amen.
Prayer focus Those seeking purpose
