S) "26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."
1 Corinthians 12:26 (NASB)
O) Paul had just gone through a discourse, teaching how all Christians comprise the body of Christ. Within that analogy, we are all members of different kinds, none more honorable than another, none more valuable than another. There is unity in the Holy Spirit, bringing our diversity together, as we are all created with different manifestations of the same purpose. All is to the glory of Jesus Christ, as He has put us each in position by design. Then, when we get near the end of the topic, Paul reminds us that our unity has negative impacts as well as positive ones. This is, perhaps, the most overlooked portion of this whole topic.
A) There are many times when I think I am quite weird. The randomness of my interests, the way I tend to laugh at things without really knowing why, the way I look at math; these things and many more, contribute to what I might like to see as my charming personality. On the other side of things, there are certainly parts of my personality that are clearly negative. With both of these, it's easy for me to forget that I am, In fact, part of a bigger whole. On the positive side of things, God made me special, and He loves me very much! (thank you, Phil Vischer). On the negative side of things, there is no such thing as a "victimless sin." Letting alone the fact that I am a victim, my sins actually weaken the body, to which I am a member! That is hard for me to remember, but it is a motivating truth. I am never neutral. I cannot be, as a member of this body. Everything I do, will either fulfill my purpose and benefit the body, or else it will abandon my purpose and hurt the body.
P) Father, Your fingerprint is all over me. The grace You reveal, in Your plan for Your children, amazes me when I see how it all fits together. It is humbling, for me to realize that my life has an integral part, as a member of the body of Christ. At the same time that I recognize that, keep me from thinking more highly of myself than I ought. Jesus is still the head, and I am only trying to be who I was created to be. I did not create my role. I did not plan my part. I did not make myself who I am. This is all part of Your grace and plan. I just want to honor You, in how I am striving to fulfill Your plan for me. Help me to see clearly, the impact I have in this body, whether positive or negative. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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