Day 12: One Body Many Members
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12 – 27
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part… God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
Having community is one of the most important aspects of every human life. Even more so among Christians who profess to believe in God’s word and design. I believe He created us to know each other and to care for one another. As is indicated in the above scriptures, our community has lots of bodies, each person has specific purpose and calling. God hasn’t called you and me to live as islands onto ourselves but to live with one another, honoring each other, and even further, caring for each other because we share the same Spirit and we belong to Christ. It is how Christ cares for us that should inspire us to remain in community. It isn’t coincidental that when one rejoices, the rest rejoices and when one member of a community or multiple suffer, the rest feel and experience it too.
Questions to Consider:
What does community mean to you? In what ways can you see these scriptures encouraging your community to grow together?
Prayer:
God, thank you for our NU community, for my living area community, for my friends, and those I call family. God lead me by Your Spirit, in continually being a part of the community around me, recognizing the differences but also knowing that we are of the same Spirit.
By Dr. Nina Hanson