The Body

I Corinthians 12:14-20

 

The body is a unit - It is one, unified into a single entity.

though it is made up of many parts; - body parts, gross when separated from the body, and won't work unless connected to the body.

and though all its parts are many, they form one body. - Each body is made up of various kinds of cells that become different kinds of organs, etc.

So it is with Christ. - God's Annointed is One, yet made up of many kinds of parts.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit - The same One immersed all of us, each one of us.

into one body --  Now we are all a part of one another.

whether Jews or Greeks - No matter our birth pedigree.

slave or free -- No matter our political or economic standing.

and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. - To slake our spiritual thirst; to be filled with, controlled by.

Now the body is not made up of one part but many. - A lot of different kinds of parts comprising one whole.

If the foot should say, - Have this attitude.

"Because I'm not a hand," - Envy of another's ability.

"I do not belong to the body," - I'm not important or needed.

It would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. - Attitude does not change reality.

And if the ear should say, -  Again, attitude.

"Because I'm not an eye," - Envy of another's perception.

"I do not belong to the body," - Not connected or appreciated.

it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. - Again, perception is not necessarily reality.

If the whole body were an eye, -  All perceive by seeing.

where would the sense of hearing be? - No one would be able to hear.

If the whole body were an ear, - Blind, but hearing.

where would the sense of smell be? - No one would catch the whiff of decay, nor the fragrance of a rose.

But in fact God has arranged - It's His plan and doing, not ours.

the parts in the body, - He designed and engineered it.

every one of them, - Each part has an important part to play.

just as He wanted them to be. - His choice, not ours.

If they were all one part, where would the body be? - If we were all the same, it wouldn't work.

As it is, - Reality.

there are many parts - We are all different. 

but one body. - It takes all of our different personalities, abilities, gifts, etc. to get everything done and make it work.