This morning’s time with God was challenging. As are most of the conversations we have in which I actually talk less and listen more. From 1 Corinthians 12:12-31:
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, ‘I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,’ that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, ‘I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,’ would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’ The head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’ In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.”
As I read the last portion of that (the section I’ve highlighted) and allowed God to speak into my life this morning, He pricked my heart with more questions than answers:
- “How well are you caring for the ‘less honorable‘ members of the body?”
- “How caring are you toward those with ‘less dignity?'”
- “How protective are you of the “weaker” members?”
- “What are you doing to protect them?”
- “How are you showing them honor?”
- “How are you loving them?”
- “How available and willing are you to humble yourself?”
What I’ve determined in this examination is that:
- There is no “less honorable“, “less dignified“, or “weaker” in His eyes. These are our labels, as verse 22 so clearly demonstrates,
“In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.”
- I am too often consumed with serving God, wrapped up in the details of a to-do list, that I am focused on the wrong things. Too often, the blinders come on, the tunnel vision sets in, and I see only what’s right in front of me…a to-do list. I’m much too task-oriented when I should be relationship-oriented.
My prayer today, “Lord thank you for opening my eyes and heart to my shortcomings in this area of my walk with you. Please forgive me these failures, Lord. Continue speaking truth into my mind and life through the Spirit. You created me with the ability to bring order out of chaos and to provide structure and organization where it otherwise wouldn’t be. I believe you alone have the power to mold me into a person who is relationship-oriented who can also use his task-oriented gifts to your glory. Claiming your promise in John 15:7, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you“, I pray according to your will that you open my eyes to those around me and allow me to be a blessing in someone’s life today.” Love, Dad