The One Body Of Christ

This morning I felt like I should read from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, the following verses - 1 Corinthians 12:18-27 NIV:

[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."

The message here is quite simple, we need each other!  I love the analogy of the body, for as one body has many parts, each part is required to make the body whole.  This is such a simple truth, yet one that often we do not embrace.  In our humanness we divide ourselves and think one division (ours) is better than all the other divisions.  Whether this is denominational divisions, or gift based divisions, or congregational the simple truth is that we are all part of the same body of Christ, and no one group is better than any other.  We may have different functions within the body and, thus, some labels make functional sense, but the body is not whole without all members.

In verse 25 Paul simply states,  "there should be no division in the body".  Period.  In our minds and hearts we must learn to view all parts of the Body of Christ on earth as one body.  We must open our eyes to the fact that the church down the street, or across town, or of another denomination, or in another nation is part of the same Body of Christ.  He only has one body, and we are all part of it.  Let us learn to embrace those who have different functions or labels for them themselves as members of the body.  Let us learn to lift each other up in prayer and concern.  Let us have equal concern for each other, not focused only on our little part.  Let us open our hearts and our doors to each other. Let us look to our head, Christ Jesus, and endeavor to see His Body the way He sees it.

Amen!