I Corinthians 14: 34-40
The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak,
Women were not to take official speaking roles in the services of the church, usurping the roles of the men.
but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.
The Law here must refer to Genesis 3:15, when the Lord God tells Eve that she will be under her husband's rule.
This is expressing God's order of authority, as discussed August 28, 2019, and other places.
If they desire to learn anything,
That is, if they have questions.
let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
They are not to interrupt the service to get answers, they are to discuss these queries privately at home. Or if she has no husband, then the pastor or one of the teachers in the church. Not during the service.
Was it from you that the Word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?
Paul's rhetorical questions here suggest that the Corinthians had their own customs concerning women's public speaking, and were acting independently of the other churches. They may have been presuming that the Word of God came only to them through their own prophets, so could deviate from what Paul wrote.
If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.
So Paul suggests that if they think they are true prophets of God or spiritual, that they would acknowledge that God had Paul put into writing the guidelines for all the churches to follow. We are all one Universal Church and all our congregations are to be united in promoting God's order, as He had Paul lay it out for us.
But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not to be recognized.
The one who ignores this is to be ignored.
Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
So he says to still want the gifts that would profit the church the most, but don't be against any gift God would give, even the gift of tongues.
But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
Just make sure that everything done in church, for the church services, is all done in an orderly and proper manner, not allowing confusion or inappropriate behavior to bring chaos into God's church.
We think that we're so modern, and that these old-fashioned ideas are out of style for us today. But I think that is how they were thinking in Corinth. They were thinking that women were emancipated, so could override the order of authority God made mankind to operate under.
When Eve allowed herself to be deceived, she demonstrated that she needed her husband to be able to lead her aright. So God put him over her in authority, to maintain order. That has never changed.
The husbands have the position of leadership over their wives, and widows or unmaried women are under the umbrella of authority of the church. So the women are not to usurp the men in assuming speaking and teaching and preaching roles in the church. This is not being followed in many churches today.
Yes, women are emancipated today. Yes, God considers that in His family there is no more male or female, any more than there is any distinction between rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, educated and cultured or "naked savage." All are one in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:11).
But God is still a God of order, and His order in the church is for the men to take the leadership roles of pastor and teacher over the congregation.
He's not saying that the women should be uneducated or put down in any way, but that their place in the church is to learn from the leaders, and their own husbands. And the older women are to teach the younger women (Titus 2:3-5), so they are not excluded from ministry. And in some cultures today, women are not permitted to be taught by men at all, so women need to pastor those women in those situations. They would not be usurping the men's role there. And there are very godly women today teaching other women the "deep things" of God in Ladies' Bible Studies. So we ladies can learn from both the men and the women who are gifted to teach.
So God has use for each one of us. We are all God's ministers if we are His children. We are His witnesses, and we all are to be able to give an answer to whatever question we may be asked at any time.
Where we are and who we are with will determine how our ministry will look. And we all have a ministry to others from the Lord to promote His Kingdom. That's why He left us here after saving us.
It's up to us to scatter the seed of His Word throughout the whole World, until every person alive will be able to hear His Gospel, and understand enough of how much God loves us all to be able to make an informed decision to either accept His gracious gift of Salvation or reject it.
Then the Lord will return (Matthew 24:14). And we will be rewarded for all we did to promote and grow His Kingdom, that will last forever.
O my Father, thank You for Paul. Thank You for taking Saul of Tarsis, the fiery persecutor of the Way, and transforming him into Paul the Evangelist. From tearing down the church to building it. Thank You for having him write out all these details and preserving his writings so that we could read them today and be instructed, just as the church in Corinth was taught so long ago; and the guidelines still apply to us, just as they did then for them.
Father, help us to rightly understand all these admonitions, not only for the original hearers in their culture, but also for us in our own societies today.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord God Almighty, our Sovereign King, to the glory of Almighty God the Father, forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I Corinthians 14: 1-33
I have observed great controversy in the church about the speaking in tongues. Some say that every saved person should show it by speaking in tongues. Others say that it is a gift given only to the early church, and it is not from God today.
So what does Paul say? And how does it apply to us today?
Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Paul speaks of the gift of prophesy as being able to speak God's Word accurately, applying it to the current situation. This is a most useful and beneficial activity to build up the church. That's why he puts such emphasis on it, especially in contrast to the gift of tongues.
For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.
If someone is speaking in an unknown tongue, he's obviously not speaking to anyone who does not know what he is saying; so he's only speaking to himself, or God, who knows all languages.
But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
Someone expounding on God's Word is helping all the hearers by building them up, and advising or admonishing them, and comforting them.
One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
Someone speaking in an unknown tongue is only helping himself, but the one who is teaching God's Word is helping everyone.
Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy;
Obviously not everyone had this gift of tongues in this congregation, so Paul says that he wouldn't mind if all of them had this showy gift they want, but that he would rather they all would want to help one another, instead.
and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
More helpful and useful is the one who ministers to others than the one who just wants to help himself by showing off in an unknown tongue; the only way to make this useful is to have someone interpret that tongue, so others can benefit, too.
But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you
None at all! If you can't even understand what I'm saying!
unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophesy or of teaching?
Unless you can understand my revelation or knowledge or prophesy or teaching. These are what will help you, not just tickling your ears with some exotic language!
Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?
For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
Even musical instruments must be played with skill and learning, or they would not be good for anything.
So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
So if your words are foreign and not understood by the hearers, then you're only speaking into the air! Useless!
There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the World, and no kind without meaning.
There are lots of different languages spoken all over the World, and every one of them is understood by the people in the area where that language is used.
If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
So if I don't understand what you're saying, then I would consider you to be a foreigner to me, and I will be a foreigner to you, unable to communicate at all.
So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
Since you are so eager to want to practice spiritual gifts, then decide to want the ones that will do the most good for the most people, not just yourself.
Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
So the one who has a gift of tongues should ask God to help him understand what he is saying, so that he and others will benefit by it.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
Paul says that if he prays in an unknown tongue, then it's only his spirit that is praying, and he's not benefiting at all, since it is our minds that think, and need to be renewed, so that we can learn to live better lives.
What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
The conclusion here is that he decided to pray with his mind, which will include his spirit, too, and also when he sings he will understand the meanings of the lyrics so that he will benefit by it, too.
Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
Otherwise, no one else can agree with ("Amen") what you're praying, since he can't even understand you, and doesn't get any benefit at all.
For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.
So you may understand the wonderful prayer you just said, but you're the only one.
I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;
Paul understood this gift well. He traveled the whole known World, spreading the Gospel to every people group he could, so he needed to preach to them in their own languages that he never had the chance to learn. So he was constantly using this tongues gift in his ministry.
however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
But when he's in church with his brothers and sisters in the Lord, he didn't want to use this tongues gift, because he wanted them to understand what he was telling them.
Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
Paul wanted these Corinthians to grow up in their faith. He didn't want them to learn all kinds of evil stuff, but all the good qualities they needed to build into their lives to be godly.
In the Law it is written,
By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me, says the Lord (Isaiah 28:11).
So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
The gift of tongues was to be able to show unbelievers the goodness of God, and the gift of prophesy was to be able to teach the believers how to grow up in the Lord.
Tongues is for unbelievers, prophesy is for the church. God's order. Not chaos.
Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
If some stranger wanders in, he'd think you're all crazy!
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed;
How many times have you been listening to your pastor's sermon, and had the distinct feeling that he'd had your house bugged that week?
and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
That is what will draw someone toward God, and he may even be saved. Praise God!
What is the outcome then, brethren?
So what is the conclusion here?
When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.
Everybody has something to say.
Let all things be done for edification.
Do everything that will build up the church and help everyone.
If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret;
If someone wants to speak in a tongue, be disciplined about it and keep order, and make sure it will help others, too, not just yourself.
but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
If it will only help yourself, then keep it to yourself.
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.
Let those who want to teach also speak in an orderly way, and let the hearers decide how to apply it to their own thinking and living.
But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.
Then if God speaks to someone there who has been listening to the speaker, then the speaker should give him the floor.
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;
You can all get a chance to speak and share, but do it in an orderly way, so that everyone will be heard and everyone can learn.
and the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets;
Each person has the ability to control himself.
for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
God is a God of order, and His Love put order into the chaos of creation. So to be godly is to not give in to confusion, especially in the church services.
O my Father, all Your gifts are good gifts and are beneficial for us all, both those who are Your children and those we are witnessing to, to show them how much You love them, too, and want them to come to repentance and accept Your gracious gift of Salvation.
Father, please help Your children, Your saints, to exercise the gifts You have given to each of us; to help one another, and to spread Your Good News; to grow Your Kingdom.
That we might grow up, and that the numbers will increase to the size You have determined for each congregation, to fill every seat at Your great Banquet Table and Your House will be full!
And every eye will see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will proclaim in every language everywhere, that Jesus is Lord God Almighty and Sovereign King of the Universe, to the glory and praise of Almighty God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I Corinthians 13: 8-13
Love never fails;
Love is God, He has given us His Love, now we are to love others with His Love.
but if there are gifts of prophesy, they will be done away;
All prophesies will be fulfilled, everything that has been foretold will come to pass, and it will all eventually be history.
if there are tongues, they will cease;
The languages we speak to communicate with one another are for this Earth time. I don't know what language they speak in Heaven, or even if they speak at all. We may just think to one another! I don't know! But our languages will not be needed after we leave this World.
if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
All knowledge, all science, all empirical experiences in this World will be useless when this Earth is no more. Everything we know here depends on our environment where we live. When our Earth explodes and our Universe implodes, to be re-done as a New Heaven and a New Earth, it will be completely different from the World we know now. All true science is a search for how God designed this creation to work. When everything becomes New, then all this Earthly knowledge will be obsolete.
For we know in part
Our body of science continually grows, because we still don't know it all, and we never will. Our eternal Creator has,
Set eternity in their heart, so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
So no matter how much we learn, we still will only know part of all God has done already. Just in this World.
and we prophesy in part;
Everything God has had His prophets write about are all the things we need to look for to happen, but He has not given every detail of every event that will come to pass. We cannot even take in everything He has told us, and yet there is so much more that we will just have to experience when it happens.
but when the perfect comes the partial will be done away.
When all God has planned is complete, and finished, and done; and we have entered into the Eternity of the never-ending expansion of the Kingdom of God; then we won't need all this temporal knowledge any more, we'll be learning whole New Universes, that we will take part in helping King Jesus to rule.
When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
Our childhoods are spent growing up. We progress from childish language, childish ways of thinking, and childish processes of reasoning, when we mature into more adult ways. Or we should do so. When we grow into more sophisticated ways of seeing our world and responding to it, then we don't need the simplistic, childish ways any more.
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;
It's like we're seeing things as a distorted reflection now; but when we "graduate" this "school" of life, and see Jesus face-to-face, then we will be able to see clearly.
now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
Just as God knows each one of us intimately, down to the molecule, and Loves us anyway; so He will show us His full reality of all that we are and have done.
But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
So now our faith sustains us, until we will be able to see.
Our hope is our longing to have what God has promised, until we are ready to receive it all.
But our love for God and for one another will never fade, but only grow wider and deeper and stronger and more passionate throughout all Eternity!
O my Father, You are so great! You are so good! You are so much more than I can ever imagine! And I can imagine a lot!
You have told us everything we need to know, in order to live together in this World, to relate to one another in positive and productive ways. You have told us who we are to You, and given us Your Love, so now we can love one another with Your Love!
Father, You have told us what to look for and expect to happen in coming days, so that we will be prepared to face and conquer what we will encounter, and You have told us the "last chapter" in our story, to give us the encouragement to know that we win!
And every eye will see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Lord God Almighty and Sovereign King, to the glory of Almighty God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I Corinthians 13: 4-7
We learned how important it is to love one another, now we're going to see what that love looks like.
Love is patient,
It "suffers long." This is makrothymeō in the Greek. It means to be "long-spirited;" to have "long patience, to patiently endure." Never give up.
love is kind
The Greek word is chrēsteuomai which is translated as "to show oneself useful, or act benevolently; to be kind."
and is not envious;
This word is zēloō in the Greek, which means, "to covet earnestly; to move with envy." When we love someone, we're not going to scheme to take from him what he has for ourselves.
love does not brag
"Vaunteth not itself," essentially, to not be a braggart.
and is not arrogant,
Not haughty, does not "puff up" himself with pride. The Greek word here,
physioō, gives the idea of "inflating by blowing" it up, like a balloon.
does not act unbecomingly;
"Unseemly," aschēmoneō, in an inappropriate way; not in keeping with established standards of taste or proper form. When we love one another, we would not want to embarrass one another with indecorous behavior.
it does not seek its own,
This is zēteō, "to seek," as to worship God, or negatively, to plot against a life. A very strong word; we are not to go after what would be for our own selves, to worship ourselves by putting our own benefit primary in life, rather than what would help the one loved.
is not provoked,
This is, paroxynō, to not easily get exasperated or stirred up.
does not take into account a wrong suffered,
King James Version says, thinketh no evil, so this would be to put a positive frame around what was a negative occurrence. To rethink a slight or an insult, as Joseph told his brothers that he knew that they meant to harm him, but God meant it to save all their lives.
does not rejoice in unrighteousness,
"Rejoice," chairō, means to be happy about, cheerful, as a greeting. We are not to happily welcome into our lives what is adikia, "legal injustice; or wrongfulness of character, life, or act." We are doing no favor to anyone to allow ourselves to give an "atta-boy" to someone who has an immoral lifestyle. It's unhealthy and hurtful to oneself and the whole society he lives in.
but rejoices with the truth;
But we are to sygchairō, "congratulate, to gladly sympathize" with alētheia, "truth, verity." What is in alignment with how God designed this environment to work, and how we can cooperate with it is the truth of any situation.
And God is Love, so how He wants us to relate with one another is also with love, with wanting the very best for the other, regardless of what it costs us.
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
The "all things" is pas, which includes "all, every, the whole, whatsoever, whosoever." The whole ball of wax.
"Bears" is stegō, "to roof over, to cover with silence, to endure patiently." All things.
"Believes" is pisteuō, "to trust completely, implicitly, without reservation." All things.
"Hopes" is elpizō, "to anticipate with pleasure, expectation with confidence." All things.
"Endures" is hypomenō, "to stay under (behind), to bear with (trials), have fortitude, persevere, endure, take patiently." All things.
No matter what happens, no matter what people do to us, no matter how they may mistreat us and slander us and use and abuse us; if we love them with God's Love, then it will make no difference in how we treat them.
We tend to treat those who love us much better than we treat those who don't like us. Or those we think don't like us.
But if we love people as God Loves people, and is good to us and gives His own Best and most Precious for us while we're still sinners, then that will take God's Holy Spirit in us loving them through us.
Love never fails.
This is why Love never fails, God's Love. That's why we need God's Spirit in us to love others as He Loves us. This is not in us naturally, it is not mere human love; it is God Loving others through us.
O my Father, You have Loved us with such an expansive, glorious, unlimited, extreme Love! Please teach us Your children how to love one another as You Love us. Show us how to display Your Spirit of Love even in the face of insults and betrayals and abuse.
Father, show us how to respect the temple we are, while remaining true to Your Truth, and to love the perpetrators even as we call them out on their unrighteousness.
Father, what goes against how You made us and our Earth actually hurts us and our World. We have destroyed so much of our environment, and so much of our own health and well-being, in turning to man for what is processed and artificial instead of what You have generously provided for us right here.
And, Father, how we treat one another in our cities and neighborhoods and online is so harmful to ourselves and one another. Please grant us healing and compassion for one another. Teach us how to apply these concepts You have given us in these verses. This is the only way we will be able to do right by one another and ourselves and where we live.
Cause our love for one another to show the World around us that Jesus really did come to be one of us, to be our Savior and Redeemer and King. And also our Judge.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus of Nazareth is our Lord God Almighty, our Sovereign King, to the glory of Almighty God the Father, forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I Corinthians 13: 1-3
Here is the "more excellent way"--the way of Love.
If I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
No matter what flowery language I use, my words will convey no more value than just meaningless noise, if I don't love my hearers.
If I have the gift of prophesy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
No matter what I know, no matter what I've learned from God, and no matter if my faith can terraform the surface of this Earth, I'm still nobody if I don't love the people that God loves.
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Even if I give away a fortune, leaving nothing for myself, and willingly face martyrdom, it still wouldn't be worth anything if I don't love the people around me and treat them with the consideration God gives us all.
This is how important it is for us to love others, even our enemies, the way Jesus has loved us, even when we were His enemies.
And the following verses describe what this love looks like.
O my Father, please open our minds and hearts to not just understand what these concepts are, but to cut us deeply to actually love one another graciously and compassionately and sacrificially, no matter what it will take from us.
Father, You gave us Your very Best, most Precious! Teach us how to do the same for one another. Break our hearts for what breaks Your heart, Father, and strengthen us with Your boldness and faithfulness and energy to go out, to do, to say, to write, to be the witnesses You mean for us to be, to those in each of our little worlds, to build up and help and teach and show Your Love to one another.
And send more workers into Your mission fields, Father, to find those who are looking for You, to rescue the perishing from every evil deed and out of this present evil age, into the safety and rest of Your fold, that there be Your One Fold with One Shepherd.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will proclaim in every language that Jesus is Lord God Almighty, our sovereign King, to the eternal glory of Almighty God the Father.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I Corinthians 12: 27-31
Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.
Because we are all one body, we need to cooperate with one another for the body to operate effectively.
So the order of authority that God put into all of His creation also applies to the church.
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles,
The apostles were the men who laid the groundwork on the foundation of Christ for the building of the church, so they came first. Now that part is finished. Beware of anyone calling himself an apostle today, because the framework for the church has already been laid.
second prophets,
Next came those who would speak God's words to the people, explaining how we are to live now according to this New Covenant, instead of the Old Covenant.
third teachers,
Then the teachers would teach what the prophets had received from God, to disseminate the new ways of thinking throughout the whole church.
then miracles,
These were supernatural confirmation of all this new way of thinking and living and relating.
then gifts of healings,
This related to the physical health of those who were ill or disabled or demon-possessed.
helps,
The note on this refers to Numbers 11:17 when God put the Spirit Moses had on some 70 elders of the Hebrew people to help him carry the load of all the people so he wouldn't have to bear this great burden alone.
administrations,
These were political abilities to govern the church.
various kinds of tongues.
This gift of languages is mentioned last in this particular list.
All are not apostles, are they?
The answer here is, "No," of course not.
All are not prophets, are they?
Again, of course not.
All are not teachers, are they?
Same answer, "No."
All are not workers of miracles, are they?
Again, "No."
All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
No, no, and no. No one gift is given to everyone, other than the Holy Spirit, himself, manifested in all the different gifts given to all the people.
But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
These Corinthians seemed to be fixated on the particular gift of tongues, which Paul will deal with a little later. It happens to be a lesser gift, that has less of an impact on building up Christ's church. Paul wants them to focus more on the more powerful and efficacious gifts rather than the showy ones.
And I show you a still more excellent way.
This leads into Chapter Thirteen, the Love Chapter.
O my Father, please help us to have a clear understanding of how You have designed Your church to operate. Teach us to submit to one another, and to obey You in following the directives of our leaders. Lead our church leaders into Your righteous paths so they will lead us aright.
Father, help us to be Your church, following You, according to Your ways; with the humility to recognize our own positions in Your order of authority, those higher on the ladder submitting to the rest, offering their hand of help in compassion and graciousness.
And help us all as Your children, to see one another as You see us, treating each other with kindness and gentleness especially when our rough edges rub.
And send us out into Your fields that are white to harvest. Use us to find every lost lamb that is caught in thickets or lost in crags, so that all Your sheep will be drawn into the safety of the fold, and there will be One Fold with One Shepherd.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I Corinthians 12: 12-27
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
All the members of the church make up one body, with Christ as the head. The one Spirit in all of us makes us one body.
My physical body is alive with a spirit of life in it. Your body is also alive with a spirit of life in it, but not the same as my spirit of life, because you have a different body than I have.
God's Spirit is in all of us, one Spirit, making us all one body, spiritually.
For the body is not one member, but many.
Just as your physical body is made up of many different body-parts, so is Christ's spiritual, mystical body.
If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
Hands are very handy, and someone who is not handy may think that they don't have a place because they aren't handy. But feet are needed, too, to go somewhere.
And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
An ear cannot see, so it may think it's useless. But we also need to hear the beautiful music.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
We all need different sensibilities, and when we look at one another and envy the ability someone else has, then we are ignoring our own ability, robbing the body of the sense God gave us. So our local body ends up blind or deaf.
But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
God has decided which people would be in which congregation, using our own desires and personalities to round out the characters of our churches. We need to follow His leading in joining the local church which suits us.
If they were all one member, where would the body be?
If everybody were the same in a congregation, it would not be a healthy body.
But now they are many members, but one body.
So we are to have many different people in each local church, to round out the good spiritual health of the body, and to do all the things God means for the church to accomplish for His Kingdom.
And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you;" or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
So one member of a church should never say to another, "You don't fit in here," because maybe that particular congregation needs that one there.
I think that our different congregations have different "personalities" because we are too particular about the kind of people we want to associate with in our churches. This is not right. God places the members into the body, and we are not to override His choices.
On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,
whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,
so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
All our differences can be irritating to one another, but if we allow those irritations to become divisions, then we are outside God's will for us.
We are to love one another with a sacrificial love. We don't necessarily have to like one another. But when we see one another with the acceptance and compassion of Christ's Love for us, and act accordingly, then we will find ourselves coming to like them, too. Our feelings will always eventually catch up to our wills, when we decide to do what is right, even when it's uncomfortable.
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
If you stub your toe, you are miserable until it heals. And when you get new glasses, you revel in all the clarity you can see now. One toe or one sense of sight affects our whole disposition.
The body of Christ is no different. When we are behaving ourselves, seeing the way God sees, and understanding with His mind, this will cause our spiritual health as His body to be vibrant, and we will do His will in fulfilling His plan.
Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.
We need to remember this, and keep it in mind in all of our interactions with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
O my Father, thank You for Your wisdom and compassion in putting us into the congregations where we are needed to provide the hands and feet and eyes and ears and hearts and spleens and all the other body parts each local church needs to be spiritually healthy, to accomplish everything You have planned for each one to fulfill.
Father, our cities are too populated to have only one local church, but we have so many congregations that some are at an extreme without realizing that they are blind or deaf or without the ability to do something that You have determined is necessary. They are spiritually inept or ill in some way or other. Father, show the leadership of these churches what needs to be healed, so that they will seek Your ministrations as their Great Physician.
Father, may all Your children seek Your face and Your ways, daily, and even moment-to-moment. We desperately need You for healing in so many ways.
Father, strengthen each of us individually, and our congregations corporately, so that we will be prepared to face all that You have told us is to precede the coming of our Lord and King; which I believe will be very soon, sooner than we expect.
Help us all to be looking for Your coming, and working toward the Day when every person alive will have heard Your Good News and made an informed decision whether to accept or reject Your gracious offer.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will proclaim the Lordship and Kingship of Jesus the Son, to the glory of God the Father.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
