One Body, Many Parts

Written by stacy

** Encourage your friends to go to http://www.discussdavinci.com to talk about The Davinci Code and its effect on their spirituality. While we are not endorsing The Da Vinci Code, we recognize that it will spark conversations about Jesus and we’ve created a blog to facilitate discussion.

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully??? (Romans 12:4-8).

Undoubtedly, you’ve noticed the differences in the people who surround you. One person is easy going, whereas another is intense; one thrives on details, another sees the big picture; one acts on well-ordered thoughts, another on gut feelings.

Beside individual temperaments, the Holy Spirit has given each of us different gifts.

Sometimes it seems that life would be easier if I could just associate with those who were similar to me. Yet when God brings us together, it is precisely because we are all different that we are able to function as Christ’s body.
Our calling as the church is to preach the good news, care for the needy, declare what is right, show compassion to the neglected, and teach the Word of God. And that is only the beginning!

God’s purpose is accomplished only when believers join together, each with their own gifts, temperaments, and quirks, humbly recognizing that they need each other and graciously accepting those who are different from them.

~God help me to see that it is our differences that make it possible for us to function as Your body.

About the Author
This devotional was written by Suzanne Benner. Read more about Suzanne: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/Suzanne-Benner/

Questions
1. What is a gift from the Holy Spirit that you have?
2. What would be missing from the body of believers if everyone was like you?
3. How can we work together better?

Comment
Post your comments on the devotional blog: http://talk.thelife.com/
Chat about this devotional today at 10:30 am Eastern: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat/minidevos.html

Related Article
Equipping others to use their gifts
http://www.christianwomentoday.com/training/equipleaders.html

Copyright
This devotional is protected by copyright laws and may not be reprinted or posted to a site without permission from TruthMedia Internet Group. All readers are welcome to forward the devotional to a friend or link to it. If you would like to seek permission to reprint the devotional in full, please contact us:
http://www.truthmedia.com/contact/index.html

One Response to “One Body, Many Parts”

Loading comments
Sandy says:

May 17, 2006 at 8:32 am

The devotionals this week have so incredibly hit home for me. Too many times, when I try to “fix” someone, I end up trying to make them just like me.

Thank you for opening my eyes!