Daily Devotions – Body of Christ

Daily Devotions – Body of Christ

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (NIV)
Unity and Diversity in the Body
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. 21 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!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 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, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[b]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

 

How do these verses make you feel about your place in the Body of Christ?

This scripture states so clearly that I am important to the Body of Christ, even when there are a lot of times I may not feel like I am. Often I find myself thinking I sure don’t have a lot to offer ( I can’t sing, not good on a computer, not rich…). But that is not what is important to God, He has placed me just where He wants my shortcomings and all.

Lord, I am so humbled and sometimes awed that You have brought me into a relationship with You. Your Word and Your Spirit encourage me to walk faithfully with You and with others within the Body of Christ. How blessed I am to be with others who will share in my joys and in my sufferings. You have made us each so unique, each with different talents and abilities, and when we work together as You meant us to. We can bring so much glory to You. Lord help me to appreciate all the differences in the body, let me help any who are weak, let me learn from those who are stronger. Help me to do my part to keep unity in the body. Amen

 

Today’s prayer was submitted by Jo Schneider