The body is a unit, though it is made up of
many parts; and though its parts are many, they form one body.
So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one
Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we
were all given the one Spirit to drink.
The church I attend has many different prayer groups that meet in the middle of the week for fellowship and time to encourage and pray for each other, they are called "life groups". Each Sunday morning a different life group is given the duty to set up the chairs in the sanctuary, bring out the tables for coffee, prepare the coffee and tea and so on. It works nicely since most adults enjoy a hot beverage after the service while we all mingle around and talk before going home.
It was my life groups turn to do it last Sunday. A few people showed up early and had most of the chairs almost set up. The ladies were busy in the kitchen filling urns with water to boil for the drinks, measuring out milk, sugar and so on. I was given the job of getting some tables out to put the cups on. I feel a little closer to these people because we are working together to bless others that will come later. The whole church has come to expect this to be done every week. But what if this past Sunday my group just said we're not going do the set up? We don't do as good of a job as last weeks group, or we just wanted to not bother to attend at all and just sleep in that Sunday morning? We would have let the rest of the congregation down. The after service social time would be shortened and there would be concern from them for us. Some would be wondering what happened to us and maybe others even begin to think maybe they would take their next turn off as well. Soon we wouldn't be having that time afterwards to talk and visit and that could begin to affect other areas of the church. Areas like children's church, music ministries, or preaching.
The point Paul is making is that we need each other. YOU are needed, wanted and depended on. This whole illustration can be used in the whole of your life. Apply it's principles to your family, friends, job. The place you find yourself in is where God has placed you to be and therefore represent Him in those areas. Later in the chapter Paul goes on to say that no one is greater or lesser, weaker or stronger than the others in the body. But we are interdependent on each other. Just because you are not the drummer in the band, or the preacher, does not mean you are not just as important as they.
Today make a decision to get fully involved with a group of believers. Then find out where they need your expertise and get involved. I promise you the effort is worth the long term benefits.
I'd love to hear from you how this post may have impacted on your life.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot
should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,"
it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
1 Corinthians 12:12-15
1 Corinthians 12:12-15
The church I attend has many different prayer groups that meet in the middle of the week for fellowship and time to encourage and pray for each other, they are called "life groups". Each Sunday morning a different life group is given the duty to set up the chairs in the sanctuary, bring out the tables for coffee, prepare the coffee and tea and so on. It works nicely since most adults enjoy a hot beverage after the service while we all mingle around and talk before going home.
It was my life groups turn to do it last Sunday. A few people showed up early and had most of the chairs almost set up. The ladies were busy in the kitchen filling urns with water to boil for the drinks, measuring out milk, sugar and so on. I was given the job of getting some tables out to put the cups on. I feel a little closer to these people because we are working together to bless others that will come later. The whole church has come to expect this to be done every week. But what if this past Sunday my group just said we're not going do the set up? We don't do as good of a job as last weeks group, or we just wanted to not bother to attend at all and just sleep in that Sunday morning? We would have let the rest of the congregation down. The after service social time would be shortened and there would be concern from them for us. Some would be wondering what happened to us and maybe others even begin to think maybe they would take their next turn off as well. Soon we wouldn't be having that time afterwards to talk and visit and that could begin to affect other areas of the church. Areas like children's church, music ministries, or preaching.
The point Paul is making is that we need each other. YOU are needed, wanted and depended on. This whole illustration can be used in the whole of your life. Apply it's principles to your family, friends, job. The place you find yourself in is where God has placed you to be and therefore represent Him in those areas. Later in the chapter Paul goes on to say that no one is greater or lesser, weaker or stronger than the others in the body. But we are interdependent on each other. Just because you are not the drummer in the band, or the preacher, does not mean you are not just as important as they.
Today make a decision to get fully involved with a group of believers. Then find out where they need your expertise and get involved. I promise you the effort is worth the long term benefits.
I'd love to hear from you how this post may have impacted on your life.
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