1Corinthians 12: 12-31a

Jan. 16, 2022

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.

13For 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.

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.

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

27Now 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.

Sigh … the life of a blogger. We haven’t had rain in ages (or at least for a long time …); two little flashes of lightening and out goes the internet. The system lied to me – it said it saved my first post on these verses and when the internet came back up – nothing. Now I have to be brilliant (wink) twice! (Sorry for the rant!)

I love these verses. They explain how each of us is important, how we are needed and loved. The Father and the Son don’t need us – They have no ‘needs’ – but we need each other. We all bring our uniqueness to the Body. My strengths may be your weaknesses and vise versa. But we need each other for support, for learning and teaching, for sharing insights and understanding.

My favorite joke is, “If God can use Balaam’s ass, He can use me.” The story of Balaam’s ass is in the book of Numbers, starting at chapter 22, verse 35. God uses each us; we oftentimes can’t see it … but it’s true.

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