I Corinthians 12:12-27
"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. 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. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the
hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not
the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the
hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of
them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one
body. 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. Nay, much more those members of the
body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the
body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant
honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God
hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part
which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members
should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one
member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular."
Here
God, through Paul, lays out a very descriptive and clear illustration of the
“Body of Christ” or the church.
We
all have a part in the productivity of our local church. Of course, we as parts of the body of Christ
all share one duty and that is the producing of life, just as in our
bodies. Every part of the body may have
various functions, but all of them take part in the area of producing life. New life in the church is created through
leading those who are spiritually dead and separated from God to the saving
knowledge of eternal life in Christ.
God
gives each of us a specific function in the church! Maybe you are part of the hands that serve in
the church, the legs that go out and bring people to the church, the one to
provide a shoulder to cry on, the money muscle of the church and you give to
allow the bills to be covered, or maybe you have the eye of a huge vision of
what could be accomplished through your service. I do not know what abilities and talents that
God has blessed you with, but I am absolutely positive that He gave them to you
to use to serve Him through the local church!
I
want you to ask yourself this question. Am I fulfilling God’s role for me in my
church?
For
centuries doctors have known that the human body contains a set of tonsils, yet
only in recent years have they establish exactly what it is they do? We have to be certain that God put them in
our bodies on purpose, but it took an enormous amount of research to discover
His purpose for them. I know several
people who have had their tonsils removed, and there is little to no set back
as a result. DON’T BE A CHURCH
TONSIL! One, who is not really noticed
as a member, that can be easily removed, and in no time it would be as if he
were never part of the body at all!
God
has never called anyone to simply exist.
We all have a specific job to do for Christ, and if we fail to fulfill
that task, we cause the whole body to suffer as a result. God gives us different abilities for a
reason; He has designed the body with only two eyes and two hands, indicating
to us that not everyone can have those roles to play. Could you imagine if your internal organs
were to bicker and quarrel over what function they were to fulfill, and if they
did not get their way they would just leave!!
Your body would be in serious trouble if that were to occur, yet we have
trouble seeing how our behavior would cause the same outcome in the body of
Christ.
Please
allow me to encourage you to speak with your pastor or church leader, and find
the right function for you to be involved with at your church. There can never be too many servants in the
church!! We are all members of this body
once we are saved, but the role we play in the body can and will be developed
over time. If you are right now
struggling with the task you have been given, please just keep doing your
part. God will promote you in due
time. If you would fit the description
of a church tonsil, please remedy that by getting busy as soon as possible!
