We had a quick trip to visit my parents and all of our siblings and their families. We’re thankful for the heritage of parents and siblings who enjoy talking about God, who are committed to teaching their children to love God, and who are a lot of fun to be with, too.
While we were there, we had a puzzle that we put together, one piece at a time. Everybody worked together, but each person has his own strategy for reaching the goal. For example, my brother was horrified when I did not begin with the edges and corners. Some people use the picture on the box more than others, and some people even search by the shape of the puzzle piece rather than the picture on the puzzle piece. In spite of all the differences, everything comes together and we have a beautiful picture. I hadn’t done a puzzle in a long time; it was a lot of fun.
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body?
But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
I Corinthians 12:14-27
I’ve been thinking about this passage in relationship to the different family styles within our extended family. I’ve also been thinking about this passage and what it says about our relationship with a local assembly of believers. It’s a challenging passage.
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