What part of the body are you?

Thought for today:  Reading 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and just wondering, what part of the body are you? What is your gift from God?

The first part of this question is not talking about your physical body, but rather the body of Christ, the church.  There are many different denominations but there is only one church and the bible teaches us that we are all members of the one body.

1 Corinthians 12:27

 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Just as our physical body is made up of many parts, arms, legs, head, ect…The church is one body made up of many members. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many.

God has put every member in the church to serve his purpose.  Jesus Christ is the head of the body.  Pastors may be the heart.  You may have deacons that are the arm or you may have someone that just takes out the trash that may only be a big toe, but no matter what part of the body you are, you are an important part and the body could not be whole without you.

1 Corinthians 12:18-22

¹⁸ But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where were the body?

²⁰ But now are they many members, yet but one body.

²¹ And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

²² Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

It may seem that some people in the church are more important than you, but all members of the body are equally important to God.  Just as with your physical body, if you have something wrong with your arm, you may wear a long sleeve shirt to cover it up or if you hurt yourself you take time to see a doctor and get well again.  If there is a lesser member of the church or someone that may not be dressed quite as nice as all the other members, or not be as bold, or not be able to speak as well, or just any other thing that may make them think they are not important to the church, the other members help them to feel just as important through love for each other.  By loving each other equally and showing the love of Christ all members of the body will come to know that they are loved and needed.

1 Corinthians 12:25-26

²⁵ That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

²⁶ And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Paul taught us that there should be no schism (division) in the church.  All the members should come together and have the same beliefs.  The pastor plays a big role in making sure there is no schism in the church.  There are by laws letting the members know how the church believes and what they expect of the members.  As humans we sometimes just cannot agree upon what is right or wrong and that is why there are so many different denominations today, but even though there are many different denominations, the members of them all are still members of the one body, THE CHURCH.

The definition of the word schism is a split or division between people that have different opinions or beliefs. It was never God's intention that there be many different denominations. 

Schism

noun          

a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.

In conclusion, God has set all the members in the body the way he would have them to be.  He made some pastors, some deacons, some teachers, those that have the spiritual gifts such as the gift of healing, the working of miracles, the gift of tongues, the gift of interpretation of tongues, the gift of prophesy, those to help the government part of the church and those to pray, those to clean, those encourage, those be a guide to others.  There are so many different positions that members of the body hold but all members are equally important.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

²⁷ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

²⁸ And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

²⁹ Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

³⁰ Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

³¹ But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

So what part of the body are you and what is your gift.  If you don’t like being the foot then work to become the leg.  If you have the gift of tongues, pray for the gift of interpretation.  Verse 18 tells us that God has set the members in the church as it pleases him but through prayer, fasting and living as Christ taught us to live, we may be able to change God’s mind and God may decide it pleases him to make you a different member of the body. 

Today you may only be a foot and your gift may be as simple as being the person that takes out the trash and keeps things tidy in the church.  But it doesn’t have to stay that way.  Verse thirty-one tells us to covet earnestly the best gifts.  Therefore if we fast and pray and continue in God’s will, he will grow us in the church.  You may be the person that takes out the trash today and tomorrow you may be the one that lays hands on the sick and watches a miracle take place!

Kathy Wellman

Reference:  King James Bible