I Cor. 12:12-27

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

I believe we need to see the importance of Unity in Body of Christ.ÝÝ Is it important, based on this passage it is, and all of us who truly are part of
the Body of Christ will see that we need each other, no lone rangers in Christianity.Ý Iíve seen Christians do that (lone ranger thing), and they may say I love the Lord, Iím growing spiritually, and Iím doing fine.Ý Just me and Jesus!Ý I would say firstly, you may think your doing fine, but are you pleasing God, secondly, if you are doing fine, why are you robbing other Christians of your God given talents and gifts.Ý Just something to think about.ÝÝ Now let me get off my soapbox and letís look at this passage.

Ý12 -Ý For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of thatÝÝÝÝÝÝ one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ We the Body of Christ are one unit, but many members.
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ We are foot, hand, ear, eyes, etc.,Ý Our many members make up just
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ONE Body, not 2 or 3, or 1,000,000, etc.ÝÝ We are one body - THE
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ BODY OF CHRIST.
Ý
ÝÝÝ 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ No favoritism, distinction in God's Body.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Oh how it hurts me to see in some churches the favoritism they give
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ to certain people.
Ý
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Jew, Greek, bond, free (accepted, outcast, rich, poor, black, white,
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ married, single, divorced, or of a certain denomination, etc..)Ý we
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ have been all made to drink into one Spirit.Ý Thatís something to get
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ excited about.
Ý
14 For the body is not one member, but many.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Body of Christ is not just ONE LIMB, ORGAN, or PART, but MANY parts.
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ We need the many parts!

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ You (foot,eye) was feeling Iím not like that person (hand, eye) so I
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ donít belong to the Body, but we are all equally part of the body,
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ we just have different purposes/functions. (Also see Romans 12:4-8)

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ If you lacked one part, you would be lacking what makes the body
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ work as a UNIT.
Ý
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Each part of the Body of Christ relys on the other parts. (Also see
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Romans 12:5)

ÝÝÝ Just like God designed the physical Body to rely on each member to
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ function most efficiently, so the Body of Christ was designed to rely on
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ each other to function most efficiently.
Ý

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ "...as it hath pleased Him (as He desired)îÝ God has placed us where
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ He wants us in His body, and He knows where were needed to
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ produce a UNITED, EFFICIENT Body.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ So donít fight the place where God has placed you, He knows best,
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ plus itís where it pleases Him, so if it pleases God that should be
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ enough for me and you.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Thank God we are not all just one part, we wouldnít be a BODY!

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Many members (parts, functions), One body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ In verse 15-16 YOU (foot) were saying Iím not part of the Body, now
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Others (eye,head) are saying your not like me so I don't feel you (hand,
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ feet) belong to the Body, It hurts bad enough when you donít feel you
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ are part of the Body, but I think it hurts even more when others tell you or
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ make you feel like your not needed or part of the Body of Christ.Ý If you
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ feel like you have been treated that way, donít let it bother you, those
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ who treat you that way are ignorant of your importance or spiritually
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ immature in this area (and I hope none of you have treated anyone like
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ that).Ý God knows of your importance in the Body, go with Gods Word!
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ We ALL need each other!Ý Also it says those parts that "...seem to be
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ more feeble (weaker)...."Ý Do you feel like the weaker member, well the
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Bible does not say they (you) are weaker, it just seems to be weaker (big
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ difference) and it also says they are necessary.Ý Praise God!

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ God has so composed/adjusted the Body of Christ so thatÝ more abundant
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ honor goes to that part which lacked apparent importance.

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Why, that the result will be that there will be NO DIVISIONÝ and the
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ members will have the SAME care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ When were in UNITY as God intended we'll have the heart for each other
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ as is seen here, and when one suffers well all suffer (sort of like your
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ natural body, hit your finger with a hammer and watch how the rest of
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ your body joins in, eyes are watering, mouth is screaming, and hand is
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ swinging, feet are running all because of a Finger) when one is honored
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ weíll all be rejoicing with that brother or sister, or at least as this passage
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ becomes real to us we will. (Also see Gal. 6:2).

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Now we are to see that as a whole we are the Body of Christ, and as
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ members we each have a distinct purpose and function all intertwined
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ with each other.ÝÝ A body is not an eye (a eye is a eye), the body is not a
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ear ( a ear is a ear), the body is not a hand (a hand is a hand), the body is
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ not a foot (a foot is a foot).Ý But you put those parts (members) together
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ and you have a BODY.Ý So it is with us spiritually,Ý As a part Jim is Jim
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ (doing what pleases God), put him together with other Christians
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ (members) and we have the Body of Christ.Ý PTL!

Now you need to study this passage, pray to God for Him to reveal this passage to you, and make it more real to you than the air you breathe.

Some other helpful closing thoughts on aiding in help us in application of these truths are:

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ 1. Be willing to receiving from one another -Ý Read Eph. 4:16 - "whole
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ body" "every joint".ÝÝ We (the whole Body) are held together BY WHAT
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ EVERY JOINT SUPPLIES.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ 2. By walking in God's Love with each other
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ We see following I Cor. 12 (Unity in the Body) the LOVE chapter
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ (I Cor. 13) I believe it is there after Chapter 12, because Love
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ (Chapter 13) is necessary for the application of Chapter 12.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Also in the Body ministry of Romans 12:4-8 we are then immediately
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ exhorted in the following verse to LOVE v.9-10

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ And lastly, by bearing one another burdens we fulfill the Law of Christ
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ (which is LOVE) - Gal. 6:2b

In my final words let us remember that not only will we benefit and be blessed as the Body of Christ, but it will also be a witness to a lost and dying world - John 17:21-23

This is a very serious devotion (and longer than most), and I believe the benefits are so insurmountable.Ý If we, the Body of Christ, would apply these truths it would be an awesome thing in the Church and minister to a lost and dying world that needs Jesus.
Ý

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