Playing My Role

Posted by Yakuti in Archives, Devotional | | 0 comments

The Word: Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (1 Cor 12:27).

Prayerful Contemplation: in the 12^th chapter of the book of 1^st Corinthians, Paul used the human body as an analogy in explaining our roles as Christians in the gifts that God has given us. It is amazing to me that certain parts of the human body can be detached without the total function of the body being affected, or without life being lost.

Samson’s eyes were put out by the Philistines (Judges 16:21). Some translations say they were literally gouged out, as if with a tool like a chisel. However, this did not take away Samson’s life – he continued to live and work, and although he did need his sight, he found a way to survive without it.

What happened to his eyes? They probably shriveled up and died.

When a finger breaks or falls off of the hand, the human body is not necessarily completely thrown off course. People can even survive on amputated limbs.

But what happens to the limbs, the fingers, which are taken apart? Can they survive? No.

As a soldier of Christ, I am a finger, a limb, an eye. I cannot grow spiritually without the body of Christ. I should also not be like a paralysed limb. A paraplegic has all his extremities, but the lower ones cannot function. I should be careful not to find myself withering away within the very church that I am attached to. If I pull away from the body of Christ, then I will shrivel up and die spiritually. As Christians, we need each other. There is no lone ranger Christianity.

Practical Application: What gifts has God given me? How can I be more effective to the body of Christ? Am I playing my role as a Christian and making a contribution to the furtherance of the Gospel? How should I carry out my duties as a soldier of Christ?

Memory verse: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Eph 4:11-13).

Prayer: Humbly I come before you, most gracious heavenly Father, with thanks and praise for this reminder that I really needed. Help me to understand that being Your soldier is not about me, but about reaching out to others like You do. Teach me Your ways, and guide me in Your paths of wisdom, that I may bring glory to Your Name by the life that I live, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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