One Body

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

ONE BODY

1 Cor 12:21-26

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

NIV

Although we are still talking about the Body of Christ and sometimes we think in the realm of the local church we attend as that body, this analogy could also apply to an interdenominational riff that exists in our cultural. God has told us that a house divided cannot stand, and here we see that we who are one denomination cannot say that we do not need those of another denomination. How bizarre is our need to argue over little things, and separate ourselves from each other over the interpretation of, say, the gifts of the Spirit, which we just looked at. Although we can see how foolish and disobedient to God’s Word that is, let us confine ourselves within the local church and see just how we are doing. Do we separate ourselves into little cliques or groups? Do some feel they have the superior understanding of spiritual things? Do some feel they run the church? Do some think they are the only reason the church survives because they are the richest couple? Are some of us of the idea we are the ones who are doing it all? Do we think because we have visible areas of service, we are the only ones doing something for the Kingdom of God? In fact, are we actually doing it for the kingdom or are we doing it for our own gratification and honoring? Have we separated ourselves so much from everyone else that we do not even know if one is suffering? Do we really rejoice when one member is honored, or are we a little jealous instead? It seems we should be so involved with each other, putting others before ourselves, that we truly would be members of the Body of Christ. Do we even know what everyone else is doing as members of the body? It could be that we have failed in our being what we are supposed to be, both by having so many denominations as well as having so much division within our local church. Even pastors might be guilty of being jealous of other pastors with larger churches, who are getting a lot of fame and glory, instead of rejoicing over their success, yet how do they define success? But are those famous pastors even concerned about the little suffering church on the corner of that old tattered neighborhood? We have so much to learn, so much to grow in order to truly be members of one body. 

What Part Are We?

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

WHAT PART ARE WE?

1 Cor 12:14-20

14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

NIV

How jealous do we get of those who have such a public gift in the church, or for that matter of anyone who gets the recognition for what they do? It is true that some parts of the body are surely more visible then other parts, but does that make them anymore important? Although there is going to be greater discussion about this in the following verses we should concern ourselves with the idea laid out here. Just because we may not be a soloist, a pianist, guitarist, drama player, Sunday School teacher, small group leader, or whatever else we might think would be nice to be, does not mean we are not a part of the Body of Christ, and as such we have just an important part to perform. In fact there can only be so many of one part, and if we were to take this literally there can only be one of each part. Well, eight fingers, two thumbs, ten toes, a couple eyes and ears, and a lot of hair, and of course a whole bunch of fat. But the point is of course that we need to see ourselves as the part of the body as God has arranged us to be. He has called us to be a certain part of the body, just as He wants us to be. We have to learn to be content with who we are in the body of Christ, and do want are part is. That does mean we cannot simply show up to church sit in a pew, follow alone with the singing, bow or head when told to, stand when we are told to, shake hands when directed, then listen to a sermon,  and get up and leave. We are a part, other than being the congregation, which we have to function as in order for the body not to be handicapped or crippled, or at least very sick, weak, and unable to function correctly. What part are we? 

Do Our Part

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

DO OUR PART

1 Cor 12:12-13

12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

NIV

It is clear that as a believer in Christ, as a follower of Christ, as a seriously follower of Christ, we cannot be an island onto our selves. We cannot go about living out our life independent of all other believers, then except some great interaction to happen for one hour on Sunday morning. We cannot except to feel like part of the church, to feel connected and be warmly greeted, hugged and made to feel like we are such an important part of the church if we do not live as part of the body, which of course is serving the rest of the body. We cannot wait to be asked to be a part of a church, or to get involved. If we are a part of the Body of Christ, then we must make it our effort to be a part, to become involved, to do our part, to serve our function within the body. It is the same we the members of our own body, which of them is dependent of the others? Maybe we do not know what part we are, but that does not mean we are not a part. We must find out what part we are and get to it, doing what we are meant to do in the Body of Christ. It does not matter what background we come from. It does not matter how much education we have or don’t have. It does not matter if we are a man or a woman. It does not matter if we are rich or poor. It does not matter what ethic group we are labeled. All that matters is that we are born again, Spirit filled followers of Christ. That makes us one and we should be functioning as such. Why do we stand back? Why do we allow others to do, when we should be? Why do we quit doing when we get a little old? Sure, some of the parts of our body do not work as well as they did when they were young, but they are still serving the rest of our body, for the most part. We really do need to see ourselves as a part of the Body of Christ and function as a member of that body, doing what we are supposed to do for the rest of the body. If the parts of our body failed to function, we would be crippled in some way, and so it is with the Body of Christ. Do we want to be a part of a crippled body? Then we must do our part. 

To Believe or Not to Believe, is that the question?

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

TO BELIEVE OR NOT TO BELIEVE

IS THAT THE QUESTION?

1 Cor 12:7-11

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.   11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

NIV

Here we are at one of the most commonly disputed sections of scripture. So many have accepted this for the generations of believers including today while so many insist it was merely for the use during the time of the apostles, or at least the early church. Some believe in some and some believe in none and some believe in all so what comes as no surprise, some do not know the truth. The fact remains if the Word of God is eternal and that all of these words are God-breathed, and all of them profitable for teaching, correcting and rebuking then what do we do with these that are referred to as the gifts of the Spirit. We also must deal with the simple truth that each one of us has been given something from the Spirit for the common good. That would mean none of us are exempt from manifesting one of these attributes or gifts. It also means that we do not get the choice of which of these gifts we are to manifest as the Spirit gives to each one, just as he determines. We cannot say I will not manifest this certain one because I do not believe they are for today. We cannot say I will not manifest this one but would manifest that one, because I only believe in some of them. We cannot say that I will not manifest any of them because I do want the common good, in fact, that would really be very selfish. So what do we do with these words? How do we come to terms with them? How do we justify what we believe or not believe? If we were to take these words as the truth and see them for what they are in the purest and simplest form, we would have to accept them as being for the body of Christ for all generations from the time the Spirit came to the time the Spirit leaves. But some do not believe that, and some do, so what do we do? We each must ask the Spirit to lead us into the truth. Should we believe or not believe, is that that question?

Because of Him

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

BECAUSE OF HIM

1 Cor 12:4-6

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

NIV

This is of course a prelude or an introduction to a dissertation on the gifts of the Spirit, but as we can clearly see, has some great truth within itself. It does not matter if we are recipients of gifts, or doers of serving or working all that we have and do are because of God almighty, the creator of all things. We also see that Paul is making sure we know all about the trinity, the divine Godhead. The gifts are of the Spirit, the service is from the Lord and the working is from the Father. If we think for one minute that anything we are or have is because of anything we actually cause, we are so filled with self-pride we are blind, and cannot see God. It is true that is the way of the world, that is most if not all unbelievers place themselves in the center of their universe. All that they are and have is due strictly to their own accomplishments, their own knowledge, their own skills, and their own hard or smart works. They are the author of all they are and have. No one has given them anything; they give themselves all the credit. Oh sure some may say that another person was responsibility for them heading in a certain direction, or inspired them to pursue a particular path in life, but it is still them who did and gained all they have. We cannot say that, it would be as through we are refusing to acknowledge our God. We cannot say we are the force behind our life. We serve jealous God, it is true, and He wants the glory and so richly deserves it. If we are complimented for something we do, we most always say it is due to the Lord working in our life, anything less would be prideful. Even if we have a certain talent and seem to have had since our birth, and people call it a natural talent, it is still God given, because He knit us together in our mother’s womb, it is a God given natural talent. If we pursue the highest educational level known to man, and become one of the foremost knowledgeable expects in some field, it is because God gave us the ability to learn. Whatever we do, whatever we know, whatever we become, we cannot take the credit, we must acknowledge God. It is because of Him.

His Presence Within

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

HIS PRESENCE WITHIN

1 Cor 12:1-3

12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

NIV

Is there any question about how our language surely does change once we have been born again? Surely before we were born again and filled with the Holy Spirit we being led astray. Surely we spoke words which should never come from the mouth of one who has been created by God, but yet those people who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior do in fact curse His name. In fact they even use the name of Jesus Christ in a profane way. It is also clear that the words, “Jesus is Lord” has never crossed their tongues, for it cannot as they are not filled with the Holy Spirit. But we can say “Jesus is Lord” for we are filled with the Holy Spirit and He gives those words to us deep within our being. It was the Holy Spirit who first came to us and convicted us of our need to repent and accept Jesus as our Lord. It was the Holy Spirit who spoke to our hearts and minds about how we needed Jesus, how we were lost in sin and that death was our end, not just physical but spiritual. It was the Holy Spirit who revealed the truth about God the Father and Jesus and the plan for our salvation, our redemption, that God was going to save us from death and give us eternal life instead through His son, Jesus. Where would we be if it were not for the Holy Spirit? To look at our life without the Holy Spirit would be staring right into the face of death itself. But as we responded to the work of the Holy Spirit in us and accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Spirit was not done. He still lives and works within each of us continuing to reveal the truth, and guiding us into all of the truth. We will see in the next several days exactly what other kinds of work the Holy Spirit does within us, but for now let us open our hearts and minds to His presence within. 

Happy New Year

The new life, all things have become old, all things have become new.

How do we approach this new year?

Do we look at it as just another year in God’s waiting room?

Do we see it as just another year the same as last year, just that we are getting older, more aches and pains, maybe some more heartaches,

Or do we see it as a new opportunity to start over, to make some sort of change in our life?

You know we do have a habit of getting in the same ole rut year after year….

Many people make New Year resolutions, hoping to lose weight, exercise  more, eat less, and get into those old clothes that are too tight to wear.

Some make resolutions to do better at their job, or be a better husband, wife or friend.

But no matter what the resolution is, it usually lasts for a short time and we slip right back into our old habits…. It is our nature, we really do not want to change, or we would.

There is one thing we can do that will make an awesome change in our lives,

We come into this time of the year, the beginning in several situations.

First we can enter this year as a born again spirit filled follower of Christ.

Second we can enter this year as a religious person who knows about God, but has not yet experienced a rebirth.

Thirdly we can enter this year as a person who really isn’t much into God at all, but is in a habit of attending church, just for the sake of making ourselves feel we are doing something religious.

Which ever the case, each of us has to make a choice; we have to respond to the message about Jesus Christ.

When Nicodemus came to Jesus and began to ask him something, Jesus went straight to the heart of the matter.

He said that in order for a person to enter the Kingdom of God, that person would have to be born again.

Nic just could not wrap his mind around that statement, he was only thinking about a physical birth and having to reenter his mother’s womb, but Jesus explained it to him simply as flesh is flesh and spirit is spirit. No matter what happens in the flesh, we are born, grow up, grow old and die, that is all it is, and everyone is going to experience that in the physical. It is inevitable. But our spirit is who we really are.

That spirit is born and because of sin is separated from God,

The word tells us in Romans that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

And that wages of that sin is death, not a physical one, because we all are going to do that anyway,

But a spiritual death… our spirit is dead, because of sin, and it must be reborn or born again.

So we have to respond to that message…

One, if we are already born again, we need to respond in a way that we will grow closer to Christ this year, that we will serve him in a way we have not yet done.  Or at least serve him more then we have in the past, we cannot simply live in the same way we lived last year, the fact is that if we are not growing spiritually, we are shrinking, we cannot every remain the same.

Two… if we are not born again, we cannot simply say, that was a good message, we have to respond,

Here is what we have to do, we have to become born again, if we ever want to enter into the kingdom of God.

We cannot get there on good works,

We cannot get there because we attend church or are religious, reading the bible, even praying certain prays.

We must respond to the words of Jesus, you must be born again….

We must put off the old and put on the new,

Then we can really experience a Happy New Year.