For the past few weeks we’ve been talking about how the Apostle Paul compares what we call “the Church” to a body he entitles “the body of Christ.” In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul breaks down the importance, gifts, and necessities of every part in the body of Christ. He clears up any misconceptions that we are entitled to be alone in our walk with Jesus, and that when we accept Christ our mindset should change from a “me” to a “we” mentality. We cannot accept Christ and not accept the other parts of His body. In fact in 1 Corinthians 12:15-17 he writes “ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 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 stop being part of the body. 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?”
The fact is, as followers of Christ we are meant to be together and function as one! Can you imagine if your physical body took the same attitude as many believers do today when it comes to working together as the body of Christ? The church is called the body of Christ. Have you ever thought about what it would be like if the members of our physical bodies behaved like the members of the spiritual body sometimes do? For example, what if your heart said, “you know, I’m just stuck in a rut. For the last 45 years all I do is beat and beat. I’m tired of it. It’s time for someone else to step up and do this job. Okay, feet, it’s up to you. You pump the blood.” Or what if the lungs said, “we are so under-appreciated around here. I don’t think the other organs realize that they couldn’t do their jobs without us. If we quit doing our job for a few minutes, everyone will finally see how valuable we are to this place. The brain thinks he’s big stuff. Humph! Let him do without some oxygen for a while and we’ll see how important he is!”
What if your liver said, “why do I get all the dirty work? You think it’s fun making bile? I’ve been in this body for 45 years now and do you think anyone has ever asked me to make any decisions, pump any blood, or perform any functions that are noticeable outside the body? Sometimes I wonder why I bother.” Or what if your appendix said “Ha! Just watch the rest of those organs work. Day after day, hour after hour, they work themselves do death. I’m just along for the ride. Why contribute when I can just sit here? Why get involved?” You get the idea? The point is that the individual parts that make up our bodies were created specifically for a certain purpose within the body as a whole. In the same way you are “a part” of the body of Christ, and you are needed! You impact the body with you function with it, and your impact the body when you don’t. So no matter where you are, or what you’ve been through its time to connect to the body of Christ and function as one! Jesus prayed for His people to be “one” and that will only happen when “every part” of the body is willing to come together!
This Sunday at South Side we will continue our series entitled “Your Part Matters.” Be sure to come early, and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee and snack at Café Connect. We have childcare and children’s classes for all ages. Also, South Side offers two worship times being 8:30 & 10:45. We hope to see you Sunday!
In Christ,
Barry Pettit
Lead Pastor
South Side Church of Christ
www.southsidewch.com
