All of you are Christ’s body, and each one is a part of it.
Introduction
1 Corinthians 12:12-31: In today’s reading, the apostle Paul compares the body of Christ to a human body. Each part of the body refers to individual members of the church, and all are united in one being.
Scripture Reading
One Body with Many Parts
12 Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it is made up of different parts. 13In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink.
14For the body itself is not made up of only one part, but of many parts. 15If the foot were to say, “Because I am not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” that would not keep it from being a part of the body. 16And if the ear were to say, “Because I am not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” that would not keep it from being a part of the body. 17If the whole body were just an eye, how could it hear? And if it were only an ear, how could it smell? 18As it is, however, God put every different part in the body just as he wanted it to be. 19There would not be a body if it were all only one part! 20As it is, there are many parts but one body.
21So then, the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Nor can the head say to the feet, “Well, I don’t need you!” 22On the contrary, we cannot do without the parts of the body that seem to be weaker; 23and those parts that we think aren’t worth very much are the ones which we treat with greater care; while the parts of the body which don’t look very nice are treated with special modesty, 24which the more beautiful parts do not need. God himself has put the body together in such a way as to give greater honor to those parts that need it. 25And so there is no division in the body, but all its different parts have the same concern for one another. 26If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it; if one part is praised, all the other parts share its happiness.
27All of you are Christ’s body, and each one is a part of it. 28 In the church God has put all in place: in the first place apostles, in the second place prophets, and in the third place teachers; then those who perform miracles, followed by those who are given the power to heal or to help others or to direct them or to speak in strange tongues. 29They are not all apostles or prophets or teachers. Not everyone has the power to work miracles 30or to heal diseases or to speak in strange tongues or to explain what is said. 31Set your hearts, then, on the more important gifts.
Best of all, however, is the following way.
Today’s Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:27
All of you are Christ’s body, and each one is a part of it.
Reflect
Reread verses 27-31. What special abilities or responsibilities are described? How do people with various spiritual gifts enhance the work of the church? Where do you see this happening within your community of faith?
Pray
Holy Spirit, open my heart to your spiritual gifts, that I may carry out the work of the church, reach out to others, and strengthen the body of Christ by providing life filled with love, joy, and peace. Amen.
And now, join us in praying for ongoing support for the Hero Squad, one of the fastest-growing programs of American Bible Society’s Armed Services Ministry. Gracious God, thank you for the generosity of Bible Society donors. Through their giving, U.S. military children and their parents were provided with quarterly care packages filled with Bibles, devotionals, gifts, and activities. Thank you that these resources will equip children and their parents with an important lifeline as they navigate military life. We praise you that this year, 13,550 military and family members were reached. Gracious God, please help us reach the 5,292 brave heroes who are still waiting for a sponsor. May they experience your love through your Word. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
1 Corinthians 13:1-13: Paul teaches about love.