Scripture:
I Corinthians 12:20-26 NKJV
[20] But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. [21] And 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] No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. [23] And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, [24] but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, [25] that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. [26] And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Observation:
Paul wrote several letters to the church in Corinth. Even though we only see two clearly outlined in the bible. The first letter refers to a letter that had been written beforehand, addressing acceptable conduct in a church, and the second is composed of two different letters, with the dividing line being chapters 9 and 10. Now I know that may seem like unnecessary information. However, I found it interesting that Paul took such an interest in this church. He really wanted them to succeed in this walk of faith and invested a lot of time giving them the instructions needed in order to do so. As he looked at all the issues and sat back thinking about how to do something about them. One of the first things he saw was division. It was all throughout the church. If they were going to be successful. They were going to have to see each other as one body. Every part was needed, and not one part could operate correctly if all the parts were not cared for. You see, even though Paul’s encounter with Jesus did not take place until after the foundation of the church was laid out in the first few chapters of Acts. Paul knew that the methods put in place were successful. He saw the church advancing, winning souls, gaining ground. It’s the reason his attention was drawn to Stephen at the city gate that day. A successful thriving church takes care of all its members. Knowing that when one struggles we all struggle. To be honest, I find Paul’s approach to be the one way to look at this. As he brings to the surface some of the issues he had witnessed, he refers to the church as a body. One body. Something that has to be seen in its entirety. Something that has to be maintained as a whole. Yet it contains many parts. Some you see, and some you don’t, some that are honorable, and some that are not, but even though they are different. That doesn’t make them not a part of the body. They still belong attached to the rest of it. Not one part can think of the other…. man, I don’t need you…. in fact, the benefits you bring are worthless. I’m just going to cut you off. What Paul is saying here in First Corinthians chapter 12, verses 20 through 26 is, try walking without a foot, or try walking with a broken leg. It does not make things easier at all. In fact, it strains the entire body. Limping takes the entire body moving in a fashion that it is not used to. Paul’s desire for the church in Corinth was that they realize that they are all in this together. Some parts may have a more visible presence and some may not; however, that doesn’t make the parts you can’t see less valuable, or the parts you don’t want to see not needed. Every part serves a purpose. I believe Paul’s point here in First Corinthians chapter 12 is similar to what is said in Proverbs as well, chapter 27, verses 23, 24, which says Know well the condition of your flocks and herds; for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations. One sick animal can cause the others to struggle. The flip side of that is when one is thriving and doing well all of them will thrive and do. The important part of what Paul is teaching the church in Corinth is that they are not in this alone. Everyone of them has to consider the person standing next to them as a part of themselves. Its unity that makes the church effective. Not one part is less important then the other. When those who have look down on those who have not as though they are a strain on the church. We lose the purpose of why we are all here.
Application:
First of all I want to give a shout out to a few people. I did not ask permission to do this, so if they are not happy with me when I’m done, I apologize in advance. Over the last few days I have been asking for help in showing a member of the church the love of GOD. The GOD who provides the needs of those whom HE loves. The lest of these. I know this is a tough time of the year to be asking people to help someone they don’t even know, but its something tgat I believe GOD has instructed me to do. The response I have received has been somewhat minimal yet not ineffective. What im saying is not many have stepped up but those who have, have done so with confidence, and I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am that they have. The first person I want to thank is True Lock, he was the first one to offer help in this situation, what a great man of GOD I have had the privilege to see grow. Thank you sir. Its an honor to serve next to you. Nicholas and his wife Dawn Deann were a close second and deserve no less honor. Pastor Phil slid right in to this group of noble individuals last night. What an awesome way to love those whom GOD has strategically placed next to us so that the gifts HE has placed inside of us can shine. Finally coming to Rick and Vicky. They are the ones who brought this to the table. That you fir allowing a ministry that GOD had spoken to me years before hand to begin its process of growth. You see the people mentioned in this SOAP understand that we are all in this together. We are all equally important, yet equally different. When one member of the body is struggling, it puts a strain on the whole body, but when one of us celebrates we all get to celebrate with them. You are part of a collective unit. Brought together by GOD to serve each other. Not ourselves this is not about us its about the lives GOD wants to change by showing the love that HE died to give. We are the very hand and feet. The parts our sins pierced are the parts we are created to be. Its like the game I had when I was a kid. Barrel of monkeys. The idea was to get as many monkeys out of the barrel as you can using the hand of the monkey you had in yours. My point is we are all trying to get out of the barrel if we will just grab the hand of the monkey in front of us and the monkey behind us we can all get out together. All the commandment I can sum up in this love GOD above all else and love your neighbor as you love yourself. If you see someone struggling and you are standing right there. GOD has placed you there for such a time as this. Reach out show them compassion. Love on them like Jesus did. Don’t look at the clothes they have on, or whether they have, or they have not. They are a part of you, and if they are breathing there is hope. We need to be willing to jump in the mud to show others the way out. When one struggles we all struggle. Let’s do what we can so that everyone can rejoice. Grab someone’s hand and pull them out. We are the church designed to pick down you gates. Get your armor on and let’s go.
Prayer:
Father, let us not see others as different than us l, but help us to see them as a part of us. Give us hearts filled with compassion. We want to show others who we are by the way we love them. We want to be the change we want to see. Your love has filled our hearts and changed our lives. If it were not for you and what you have done we would be just another monkey at the bottom of a barrel hopping to some day get out, but you reached your hand into our lives and pulled us out. You did that so that we could do the very same thing for others. Help us to grip your hand and theirs firmly so that not one struggles alone. We want to rejoice in you. Its in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.