Daily Devotional for Friday, August 1

The Analogy of the Gifts

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, body: so also is Christ,” 1 Corinthians 12:12.

The functioning of the human body is quite amazing when you think about it. There are many processes taking place that we often take for granted. That is, until our body stops functioning the way it is supposed to. For instance, my sweet mother is struggling in her advanced years. Her heart does not function properly, which causes fluid to build up around her lungs. The doctors try to control this with medication; however, this causes problems with her kidneys. The kidneys are necessary to help process the heart medication, so it becomes a never-ending balancing act. Learning about her health issues has given me a deeper appreciation for the body and how God created it to work together perfectly.

The Lord’s churches work together in the same way. Christ is the head of the body, and we look to Him to lead us. The members of the church have been placed in the body by God Himself, according to His good pleasure (verse 18). We each have a unique function within the body and a purpose for why God placed us there. Just as all our body parts are extremely important, so is every member of the body of Christ. We have varying strengths, weaknesses and different personalities; yet, we are to function together as one body, united in purpose to spread the gospel and glorify our Lord and Savior.

We are not all going to be the same in the church and that is a good thing. Some have a heart for the elderly while others love to work with children. Some love to teach while others love to sing. Embrace the specific and unique talents the Lord has given you and use them for His glory.

REFLECTION

“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30).

Darla Goodrum