Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
January 6, 2023
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
12 Christ is just like the human body—a body is a unit and has many parts; and all the parts of the body are one body, even though there are many. 13 We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jew or Greek, or slave or free, and we all were given one Spirit to drink. 14 Certainly the body isn’t one part but many. 15 If the foot says, “I’m not part of the body because I’m not a hand,” does that mean it’s not part of the body? 16 If the ear says, “I’m not part of the body because I’m not an eye,” does that mean it’s not part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, what would happen to the hearing? And if the whole body were an ear, what would happen to the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God has placed each one of the parts in the body just like he wanted. 19 If all were one and the same body part, what would happen to the body? 20 But as it is, there are many parts but one body. 21 So the eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” or in turn, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 Instead, the parts of the body that people think are the weakest are the most necessary. 23 The parts of the body that we think are less honorable are the ones we honor the most. The private parts of our body that aren’t presentable are the ones that are given the most dignity. 24 The parts of our body that are presentable don’t need this. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the part with less honor 25 so that there won’t be division in the body and so the parts might have mutual concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part gets the glory, all the parts celebrate with it.
Good Morning, Love one another!
All come together to create one amazing being. We have so many examples of this in our world around us. Think of anything that you build, cook, or create. I like the analogy of a puzzle when I consider this passage.
When we put together a jigsaw puzzle, we must work to connect each piece to the other. Some have smooth edges, but some have bumps and ridges that must be turned in just the right way to fit. Have you every put together a puzzle without knowing the picture that it would create? With each small section, you make a new discovery.
When the entire puzzle is completed, you look in awe at your masterpiece. However, if even one piece is missing, the puzzle is incomplete until the missing piece is found. No matter how great the rest of the puzzle looks, it is not complete.
This is how the body of believers works. Some of us have smooth edges while others have protruding parts. Through the Holy Spirit, our rough edges are smoothed and twisted so that we fit into God’s masterpiece. Again,as long as pieces are missing, the one body is incomplete. The coolest part is that we can’t see or even imagine the finished product until the end day, we get glimpses as small parts come together, but the true glory won’t be revealed until all are in place.
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. Help us let the HolySpirit work with us. ! Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I am best able to serve God when I spend time in faithful community.
How are your rough edges? Pastor Liz