Devotional - Unity in the Body

 

1 Corinthian 12: 12 - 14

12 For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.14 For the body is not one member, but many.

I was in pain. I was experiencing a severe case of trigger finger and could barely use my left hand.  Only one finger was hurting but the whole hand was negatively affected. It felt very awkward and it took me twice as long to complete even the simplest of tasks. The slightest pressure on the finger caused severe pain. I could not grip objects or make a fist. It slowed my progress as I was not able to do things in the normal way.  Simple tasks that I took for granted and did without thinking were now proving to be quite difficult.  The problem with this one finger was causing a major problem. There was no denying the domino effect of this injury on my day-to-day activities. I had to find a solution and I needed it urgently. 

 A steroid injection from the doctor did the trick. I had not planned for the unexpected expense but I had to make a choice.  Find the money for the injection and get relief or forego the injection and continue to suffer the ill effects of the pain. I chose the former.

Like the human body, the body of Christ is one body that is made up of different members. When one member suffers, the whole body is affected. The work of the church suffers when members are sick, injured, and broken.  This inevitably produces a domino effect on the life of the church resulting in a downward slide. The ministry of the church is negatively impacted when members do not function at optimum levels. 

In order for the Body of Christ to thrive, there must be unity of heart, mind, and soul. We need each other and must work together to establish the Kingdom of God. We need an injection of togetherness. It is said that a chain is as strong as its weakest link. If one fails, then all fail. Every member must therefore be at their best so that the church can grow as a strong, united body.  Such a church is a blessed church. The Word states in Psalm 133 that it is good for brethren to dwell together in unity and when that takes place, the Lord commands a blessing. 

May we, as the Body of Christ, be cognizant of the fact that each member of the Body has significance and none is more important than the other. Let us live together in unity, helping and restoring those among us who are hurting so that together, we can be stronger and bring glory to God. 

Reflection

Why is it important for the Body of Christ to be united?

What can we do to ensure that the Body of Christ comes to a place of unity and remain that way?

Prayer

Father. thank you that as a united Body of Christ we can serve you and bring glory to your name. Help us to show love and care for each other and bear each other's burdens so that no one is left behind. In Jesus' name. Amen. 







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review - Memorial Stones Vol. 1

Image
  Unveiling the Power of Faith: A Review of 'Memorial Stones: Testimonies of God’s Faithfulness and Provision in Times of Need – Volume 1' .         God Is Good   “God Is Good”- is the greatest understatement EVER!! However,   ‘Memorial Stones: Testimonies of God’s Faithfulness and Provision in Times of Need – Volume 1’  offers a unique perspective, reminding us that He INDEED is profoundly good. This book, serving as a powerful source of inspiration and a beacon of hope, uplifts the spirit with its unique insights.   But first, let us look at the definition of good. While there were numerous definitions, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the ones that stood out to me most were:  of a favourable character or tendency; and  that can be relied on.   Despite these standing out to me, I believe that the definitions fail to express who God truly is. God is just, of high standards, wise, capable, to be desired, worthy, and...
Read more

WORDS of ENCOURAGEMENT - GOD'S PROMISES ARE SURE

Image
A promise is a comfort to a fool. Faithful promise mek fool glad - (A faithful promise makes a fool glad). These are popular sayings that we have often heard and maybe even use. This is true to an extent because in our fallen world, most, if not all of us have, at some point in our lives, experienced the pain and hurt of a broken promise. Such a saying issues a caution to those who blindly trust in promises made to us, especially if it known that such persons are unreliable or insincere. It paints a glaring picture of one who sets himself up to be disappointed by another. Ideally, your word should be your bond, and this should be the driving force to guarantee that any promise you make is fulfilled. However, not everyone subscribes to this idea, and so are often guilty of making willy nilly, empty and impulsive promises, without proper thought or a plan of action as to how they will be fulfilled. This often leaves a trail of heartbreak, betrayal, anger and a myriad of other negative em...
Read more

Devotional - Guard Your Heart

Image
  Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Proverbs 4:23-27 The Message (MSG)         The heart, weighing between 7 and 15 ounces, is one of the smallest organs of the body, yet it has the biggest job. That’s quite a paradox, isn’t it? The heart is at the centre of the circulatory system, beating on average 72 times per minute to pump blood to the tissues of the body, supplying oxygen and other nutrients and removing carbon dioxide and other waste matter. The heart is vital to the efficient functioning of the body and must therefore be healthy in order to maintain and preserve overall health.    Achieving optimal heart health requires getting adequate rest and exercise, avoiding smoking an...
Read more

Chapter 2 – Driver…… (An Excerpt from Memorial Stones Vol. 1)

Image
  September 19, 2024 • Lona For God has not given us a spirit of fear…2 Timothy 1:7 As a young woman, one of my dreams was to learn to drive and eventually purchase my own car. I kept the dream at the back of my mind for many years, but finally, in the late 1990’s I decided to take the plunge. Armed with my learner driver “lunatic” licence and the knowledge gained from reading the driving manual, I found myself a driving instructor and embarked on the journey of learning to drive. I was ready to put the theory into practice. My first driving lesson was a lunchtime lesson. At the time I was working at Jamaica Information Service (JIS) on Half-Way-Tree Road. My first mistake was to assume that, as is the custom with most driving instructors, we would head to the National Stadium or some other quiet area to go over the basics for the first lesson. Was I wrong! I was in for a surprise! We proceeded down Half-Way-Tree Road and turned onto Oxford Road in the heavy lunchtime traffic. The ...
Read more

Devotional – Dress for Success: Put on the Whole Armour of God

Image
Passage: Ephesians 6: 10 -17  (NIV)  Focus verse:  Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.   (Ephesians 6:11)     The Christian life is a constant battle and so each day, as soldiers of Christ, we are at war with forces of evil, the enemy of our souls. The war is not physical, but spiritual. How do we prepare ourselves for battle? How do we show up? How do we win the fight? By dressing for success, putting on our weapon of warfare, our armour. In the passage above, the Apostle Paul urges Christians to "put on the whole armor of God," a metaphor for spiritual protection against the forces of evil. This armor is not physical but spiritual, designed to shield us from the attacks of the devil and his minions. Let's delve into each piece of this divine armor. The Belt of Truth This is the foundation of our spiritual armor. Truth, as revealed in God's Word, is our belt, holding up the rest of our ...
Read more