Marcus Straight - 1 Corinthians 12:19-26 - word2day.com

1 Corinthians 12:19-26

I Corinthians 12:19 –26 (The Message)

19-24) But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn't be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, "Get lost; I don't need you"? Or, Head telling Foot, "You're fired; your job has been phased out"? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way—the "lower" the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it's a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes no difference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn't you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?

25-26) The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.

The Message (MSG)

I use scripture reference from The Message because it so often outlines the topic in terms more easily understood. Not necessarily so for this topic, however I did like this interpretation a little better than most. Simply stated; we cannot all be in the limelight. Further, we should avoid the limelight, as it is not the light we should be worried about, but God’s light. The Father, very expertly created all of our bodies in perfection, just as he created the Body of Christ and His Church in divine perfection. He gave place to everyone and provides everyone for a place. If you think of any entity in nature or the world, whether it be a tree, or an ocean liner, they all have different parts that are necessary for its existence and fruitful operation. Without roots, a tree could not produce leaves and buds that develop into fruit, because it lacks a way to nourish itself. Without propeller, an ocean liner would not be able to move through the water. No one sees the roots or the propeller, but aren’t they absolutely essential for them to be successful?

That is like the body of Christ; the Church. All of us belong to the body of Christ, all of us belong to the church, but what role do we play in the body of Christ? If you were called to help in the janitorial department, how would that make you feel? Would it make you feel less important, than say… the church secretary, or someone on the worship team? It shouldn’t…. but it frequently does. That my friend is pride. I know, because I had to repent of it. Once I did, and through the Holy Spirit was able to tap into the blessings of service it had a miraculous effect on me and my heart. I feel honored to serve now, in any capacity asked and I am thankful for the opportunity. In your heart, when you understand the design God had for HIS body of believers, and you believe and learn HIS place for you, and you are walking in the Godlight, He will honor you service to His body. He will give you joy and peace and will bless your service according to His glory and riches. At the end of the day, when I have fulfilled His plan for me that day and I am resting in His peace, that is when the real blessing comes, spending time with the Father, in His light, with His hand resting heavy on my head.

If you have not experienced the real joy of service, I encourage you to ask God where He would have you serve. It may not be the place you think you should be, but it will be the place He has for you. If you enter into this assignment with a pure heart and thanksgiving, you will experience a deeper and more meaningful relationship with your heavenly Father.

Good journeys.

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