Daily Devotional

-August 26, 2021-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-Serving Together As Members Of the Body Of Christ-

“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”

(Romans 12:4-5).

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the body, the church, and each believer is a member of His body. God’s desire is that each of us serve together as one body in unity and diversity. All members are important to the proper functioning of the body. We all have a role to play in the growth and edification of the body.

We find the teaching on the body of Christ and the utilization of one’s spiritual gifts in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4. It makes it easy to remember that way. Spiritual gifts, which are many can be categorized as speaking gifts and serving gifts; the analogy of the body of Christ is likened to a human body, where Christ is the head and we are each members of His body. Just as a human body needs each member to function properly, so too, we need each other in the service of the Lord.

We do not all have the same function, and because of that there are many members in one body. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:15-17, “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body?’ And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body?’ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?”

It is God who has placed us in the body by His sovereign will to serve Him together. 1 Corinthians 12:18 says, “But now God has set the members, each one of them in the body just as He pleased.” Each one of us is just as important as the others; and just as needed. The whole key to the proper functioning of the body is love.

Paul also told us, “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). The goal is for the leaders to lead m, train and equip the saints for the work of the Lord not just do the work by themselves (See Ephesians 4:11-12).

How are we functioning in the body of Christ? Are we using our spiritual gifts to serve and encourage each other? Are we avoiding an attitude of superiority or inferiority toward each other? We are to serve Christ together as one in harmony and love. I need you, and you need me, all together as a symphony. Christ is the conductor and we play our parts, as long as we serve Him with willing hearts!

Have a blessed day serving the Lord together in love. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean