Welcome to the blog today! 1 Corinthians 12 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 put the body together, giving 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.
This text has moved me in multiple ways this week. Last Sunday when we focused on prayer for the persecuted church these verses gave me pause to look at the body of Christ in a different way. This passage sits inside an entire discourse by St. Paul comparing Christ followers in community (the church) to a human body. It is made up of many different parts but functioning all in one body. They are interrelated and interdependent!
The reality of Christ followers being persecuted in different places in the world suddenly gave me a new lens to look at these verses. The persecuted are part of the body - they are suffering - I am part of the body - when one part suffers every part suffers with it. This is a big WOW! for me! I think prayer is a key way that I can connect with my suffering brother. Up to this time I considered the metaphor of the church as the body of Christ pretty much in terms of our congregation. Now I am beginning to see a "Global Body" - I wonder what other surprises are in store for me as I put these new "Global Body" lenses on. Don't get me wrong - I have been on enough mission adventures around the world to know about God's global church but there is something fresh, alive and prayer worthy about this new perspective especially with regards to those who suffer.
Hmmm! "God, please continue to do your eye opening work in my life! Amen"
delton
Would love to hear your thoughts! What is God saying!