1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

This section of 1 Corinthians is a supremely anointed metaphor, one that anyone can grasp, and it deals with a vitally important subject. Unity and division of labor are both vital issues in any organization, and certainly so in the Church, as well as in each local church. We speak glibly of a “body of believers” without really thinking about all that means, the way Paul lays it out in this chapter. Part of that comes from leaders thinking they’re more important, but just ask someone with cerebral palsy how much good that does if nothing follows your lead! We don’t like to admit how much we are dependent on others, and we don’t like to accept the responsibility of others being dependent on us. However, that’s an inescapable reality, whether we like it or not. For a genuine Christian, it should be a joy. Since Christ is our ultimate Head, (Ephesians 1:10 and many more) we should rejoice to be counted as part of His body, organs if you will. I may be no more than a toenail, or even a hair follicle, but I’m part of the Lord of the universe! That is glorious indeed, and we should rejoice in it. However, the flip side of that is recognizing that others are as much parts of the body as we are. That has been a problem throughout Church history, and it’s a problem in just about every local congregation today. It is true that bodies can become cancerous, and excision can become necessary. However, the only one with the wisdom and knowledge necessary to do that right is our Head, so total submission to Him is essential. It is all too common for one member of a local body to decide that another member is “inconvenient,” or an irritant, and set about trying to exclude them. They don’t realize that is like sawing off your own toe, at least! We need to value each other and build each other up, recognizing our own value in the process, and so be fully functioning and useful to our Head.


For far too long I failed to recognize how much I need other believers, other parts of the Body. I saw the tragedy of divisions between different groups, like denominations, but I failed to see that I couldn’t go it alone on a personal level. Thankfully, that is changing. God has gifted me in a wide variety of areas, but my tendency to try to do it all myself has been a hindrance to this church from the start. Now, however, I’m shifting to trying to find who can do a task that needs to be done, rather than trying to acquire that skill myself. That will be far more healthy and productive in the long run!


Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all the mistakes I made in recording yesterday’s service. I’ve been “the tech guy” in so many situations for so long that it’s hard to let go of that sort of thing. I do ask for the right person to handle it. I pray that I would fill the niche You have for me, and not try to cover more than You intend, so that every member of the Body may have joy and satisfaction in serving You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!