DCLM Higher Everyday 11 June 2024 — One Body of Christ
Topic: One Body of Christ
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-25
12For 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.
14For the body is not one member, but many.
15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16And 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?
18But 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?
20But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21And 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.
22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23And 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.
24For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
Key Verse: “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” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
Message
The body metaphor describes the church as one body with many members not having the same role but interlinked as members of one another. Just as the human body has different parts with unique functions, the different members in the Church also have different gifts freely given by God whereby they must serve, and help one another (Romans 12:38).
Our unique gifts are for mutual service and care. All members are baptized with one Spirit. They are interdependent; each needing the others. Those that seem to be weak are of utmost importance. In the body of Christ, there is no division and competition but all its different parts have the same concern for one another. If one part of the body suffers pain, all the other parts suffer with it; and if one part is praised, all the other parts share in its joy. The Christian youths have their God-given gifts in them for usefulness in the body of Christ. So make use of yours. Only born-again youths belong to the body of Christ.
Quote: They are interdependent
Challenge: You are saved to serve the body of Christ.
Prayer for today: Oh God, help me to use my gifts, in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
