Devotion for Monday, August 1, 2011
Great day @ Sonshine Baptist Church
-Pastors message on change was really good. We learned that God’s greatest goal for you is to make you like Jesus, and that He has given us the power to do this.
-It was really cool to hear Corey and Jessica’s testimony this morning. I think it is amazing that we get to spend the next year+ with them as they train for ministry on the other side of the world. It’s cool to see people that aren’t much older than many of you guys who will read this who have been lead by God to do something for Him. So cool!
-Zac’s message tonight and putting God first and sacrificing for Him was great. I don’t think anyone there could have left without asking themselves if God really is number one!
-Tonight at Wendy’s was so much fun. It was cool to see such a positive thing come out of an application from our devotion the other day. People were hanging out and having fun, and I even overheard people talking about church/spiritual stuff.
We’re on our last couple of days on this series, let’s finish out well!
Here’s the text:
1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11-31
4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 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.
14For 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? 17If 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.
19And 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.
28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Pastor Ben’s Commentary:
So today’s passage is pretty heavy. There is a lot of information there, but I’ll try to sum it up well.
This is a portion of a letter that the apostle Paul wrote to a church in Corinth, Greece. The problem with this church is that they didn’t understand what church life was to look like. Specifically, in the passage we are reading today, He is trying to help the Corithians understand “spiritual gifts.” The Holy Spirit, the 3rd person of the trinity, gives specific spiritual gifts or abilities to people when they get saved. To help them understand this, He compares the church to an actual body.
The church works like a body works. The eye is important. The foot is important. The toe is important. The fingers are important. The problem comes when an eye wants to be a foot, or a toe wants to be a finger. For this idea check out vs. 21-23. One is not more important than the other. The body functions best when there is a unity in the diversity. When there are people with different gifts trying to accomplish the task it works way better.
WARNING: MAN ILLUSTRATION: For instance- if a basketball team had nothing but 7’6″ centers but no guards who can handle the ball and pass well, then they will be weak as a team. But if they have 1 or 2 big men, and some other guys that can shoot the 3, and some other guys who can really handle the ball, then you have a solid, strong all-around team.
FOR THE LADIES: I believe that God designed the family to function this way. Dad’s learn from mom’s. Mom’s learn from dad’s. Children learn from parents. Parents learn from children (believe it or not.) A family functions as God designed it to when everyone understands their role inthe family. When a family doesn’t have the advantage of a mom and a dad in the home, a smart single parent will get other people in their life to help give their kids influence from the missing person.
It’s the same in the church. We’re all different. We have different spiritual gifts, talents, abilities and interests, but we have the same God, the same Christ, the same Spirit, and the same mission to help people to know God and forgiveness of sins. It is better when their is diversity that leads to unity!
Application:
1. You are an important part of the body of Christ- the church.
When you aren’t there, to know, grow, serve and go the body suffers. Imagine not having an eye for a day. That would not be fun!
2. Understanding our role helps us to all be unified.
Frankly, we need each other. Just like the eye needs the foot, and the hand needs the nose, you and I need each other. To function properly, the healthy part of the body helps the hurt part of the body to heal. Sometimes that doesn’t happen in the church. When someone else is hurting or does something wrong, we want to hurt them or make them pay. Really we should forgive them and help them grow.
How can you be a better part of the body? What are your gifts?