The Body of Christ

So I have this devotional, called "365 Daily Answers to What Would Jesus Do?" by Nick Harrison. It's kind of old (1998), but I think it's super awesome. The reading for today really struck me, so I'm putting it up for you guys. =)


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

God has created me to do Him some definite service' He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission...
Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which of quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain.
--John Henry Newman

WWJD? REFLECTION - Have you considered your part in the body of Christ? We each "were created to do Him some definite service," some work "which He has not committed to another." Often our calling can be found in the daily circumstances in which we find ourselves. Look around. Is your part clearly known? If not, ask Him. He does not play hide and seek with His will for us. And it's in knowing His will that we can best know how to do what Jesus would do.


I think these two, small paragraphs can speak volumes if we will let them resonate in our lives. We are all serving a purpose that God has laid out for out lives. To serve Him better, we should be constantly seeking His face. How else will we know His will for us?

Now, since I know all of you may not have your Bible handy at this very second, I'm going to type out 1 Corinthians 12:12, (The parts that are called, "Spiritual Gifts" and "One Body, Many Parts" in my Bible) because I think it is a fantastic representation of our purposes as Christ followers and it's a great chapter to be familiar with. =)


Spiritual Gifts
(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.
(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.
(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.

One Body, Many Parts
(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.
(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 a 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.
(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 unrepresentable 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.
(27)Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (28)And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. (29)Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? (30)Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? (31)But eagerly desire the greater gifts.


I hope that you realize that you are special, that God gave YOU gifts and a purpose that He hasn't ever given anyone else, and that no one else will ever have. Whatever you go through, go through it with a happy heart and praise God knowing that He has put this in your path for a reason, and that it is all a part of His greater plan.

God Bless,
Taylor