Sometimes when I sit and think about our bodies, I become so in AWE of God. It amazes me at how they work together, and all that our bodies are capable of doing and unfortunately all that we limit them to because of pain...
This past week I've realized, going along with the body of Christ, something that I've grown a passion for. And that's corporate worship. The church. But specifically worshipping (through music) together, and the power that God has on His body for His Kingdom in those times of gathering together for the sole purpose to Praise Him!
And while on my walk this morning, I was reminded of all of this, and that passage in scripture, and was thinking about our bodies and how they operate. How awesome it is that our whole body works together, to allow my body to move. I can walk, because my brain tells my body what to do, and my body (bones, nerves, muscles) respond! And they respond properly and very well. But then I think of times when people break a bone, or a tendon...where something went wrong between the communication and response time in the body. So, whenever there is a part that is broken...the rest of the body suffers, the rest of the body has to work harder to make up for the broken part. The body also has to allow itself to heal....so the broken part needs to heal...and the rest of the body has to wait, and actually helps the broken part heal but working harder.
So it is with our spiritual body, corporately. There are many in the body of Christ who are broken and need healing. There are many of us who need to pull more of our weight, and realize that we all have a part to offer and to play in the corporate body of Christ and that when we aren't doing our part, the rest of the body suffers. We are made to work together, to carry each other's burdens, to help each other heal and get better, and to do the work. To respond to what God's Word is telling us, to be obedient to the life that He has called us to, to listen to His words and His truth and walk in them. To walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel. We are the church. The body of Christ. To work together for the Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
"12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. "
Endure. For the sake of Christ, endure the pain, take one step at a time if you need to, be obedient. Be all that the Bible tells you to be. Not for yourself, but for Christ. Who gave up His life, so that you can be saved, redeemed, free. You are found in Him, not in anyone or anything else.
