1 Corinthians 12:12 RSV
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
The human body is a masterpiece of God’s creation. Though it may look simple on the outside, its workings and functions from the inside are complex and a miracle that can only be sustained by God.
The body is made up of many parts, but they all function as one benefiting one another and functioning together.
The church is likened to the body, and Christ is the head of this body. Naturally, a body is of no good and none functional if it is detached from the head. The same applies to the church. Just as naturally all the commands on how the body should function comes from the head, the church should only take its commands from the head, which is Christ.
Each part of the body, no matter how small or insignificant it is, has a function that benefits the whole body and so it is with the Church of Christ.
This means that we have two important connections we must nature and grow in. Our personal connection to Christ because he is the head of the church, and we get instructions from him. Secondly, it is our connection to one another because we form the body of Christ. In this generation, the enemy has peddled a lie that many have believed, and thus they detach themselves from the body claiming they left the church, but they did not leave Christ. That is impossible because Christ is the head of the Church, and he will never detach himself from it.
Every member of the church is significant and they have a role to play. Unfortunately, this is sometimes not well taught and in many churches today only a few people function in their place within the body. This means then that the body becomes incapacitated and can not function fully as God intended.
The challenge is for every believer to recognize that they are a member of the body and God has equipped them with a gift to serve the body. This is not just limited to the clergy, but it applies to everyone who confesses Christ as Lord. We must have the revelation that all parts are critical and thus stop elevating one function or place in the body over another.
Christ is the head and the church is the body made of different members but working as one.
Reflections.
Are you part of the body of Christ? What assurance do you have that you belong to the body of Christ?
Just as every part of the body has a function, what function do you fulfil within the body of Christ?
What gift has Christ given you for the purpose of serving his body? Are you using it for that purpose?
