Re: Arranging

Ian El-Paget January 28, 2025 7 4

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1 Corinthians 12:12-31a (NIV)

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 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. 16 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. 17 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? 18 But in fact God has placedthe parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets,third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance,and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

As an ex-international athlete I care about my body. I concern myself with the physical body. When one part of my body is injured, I feel it and I change everything I am doing to support it, to care for it;  to repair and revive that part of my body because I understand that to perform to the highest levels in sport every single part of my body must function and be in harmony with the rest. 

Paul’s example of the body is brilliant because each one of us have one and each one of us know about the parts that need special care and attention; about the parts that need to be covered and shown special consideration; about the parts that are vulnerable.  We understand the role that each part of our bodies play in supporting the whole and making life work. 

When we come to church, it is no different and we must apply the same understanding to the various parts of the body and the functioning of the whole.

This principle also works at a national level. I am part of a movement called One Heart, where we make contact with the isolated and unseen parts of the body of Christ, namely the 300 diaspora church Fellowships nestled in our nation that we rarely engage with. 

We meet them, apologise for ignoring them; receive them in the name of the Lord and invite them to a bond of unity as one body, with one heart before God and one heart towards each other.

Today as you worship the Lord, say thank you for the genius of your body; thank you for your church fellowship acknowledging the different roles and parts the people play; and pray for the nation. Pray for one heart to manifest; pray for the isolated fellowships in the nation;  pray for active unity to manifest and for the national body to embrace the distinctiveness that make us different and unique, but also make us a body.

Prayer:

Thank you Lord

for the genius of my body; 

thank you, for my church fellowship, my local body.

Thank you that we are not all the same, thank you for the different roles and parts that people play, for the many and varied talents and gifts they have. I bless their difference and rejoice in your genius. 

Thank you Lord for the nation.

I pray for one heart to manifest; I pray for the isolated fellowships in the nation that they would be encouraged and strengthened. 

I pray for active unity to manifest and for the national body to embrace the distinctiveness that make us different and unique, but also make your body Jesus, our Head.