Today's Scripture
Differing Roles 1 Corinthians 12:12-20
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members, yet one body.
RJ's Devotion
What does the passage say?
V. 12-13 We are formed as one body, united in Christ, to serve the world in our given part
V. 14-18 All parts are significant. Just because an eye is more visible, and because it controls our sight, it doesn’t mean that it is more significant than an ear.
V. 19 – 20 In the same way, because of our significance we cannot boast and belittle another part of the body.
What does this passage mean to me/us?
God called us to be united, as one body, to serve each other and the world. We have our parts, according to God’s will (v. 18).
The church is able to do God’s work, only when each member hears that call, and serves in various parts of the church.
Not only that we serve inside the church, but we also serve outside the church. Whatever job we are called to do for God, cannot make us less of who we are. The Message says, “I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less” (v. 14, The Message).
However, when one is not doing what one is called to do, or when one thinks that one is significant than the other part, the body will break. The Message says it well, “ But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of” (v. 19-20, The Message).
We are all significant to God’s plan when we are faithful to our call. Let us continue to follow God’s plan obediently.
Prayer
Lord, help us to see where you are calling us to serve. As one body, in Christ, help us to serve the world.
In Christ Name, AMEN.
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