It is clear from these readings that Paul understood human nature. Even the early church suffered division, comparison, and judgment. Be encouraged; there is nothing new under the sun! Some had walked with Jesus in the flesh, and they still struggled with understanding how the body of Christ fits together.
Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever looked at the Instagram page of a dear sister and felt envy? Or maybe you feel you’ll never measure up to your own mother’s gifting? Does a difference in strengths cause conflict in your marriage? I know I’ve fallen prey to these types of thoughts.
Fitting together as one body is hard; it can be complicated and complex. Our sanctification is incomplete, so we are tempted toward jealousy and judgment. We look to our neighbors and think that if they just got on board with our ministry, the world would function better. We turn our noses up at a social media post by a friend because we think she isn’t doing the most important work.
Or we ruminate on the same type of judgment but in the opposite direction. We look at the portion God has given us and think we aren’t adequate. We can be tempted to wallow in pity that we aren’t as good at speaking, writing, or creating as that other woman. We think we could serve the kingdom better if we were more gifted at hospitality. Or maybe we’d be more important if God gave us a different set of gifts. Paul encourages us to mature by putting this type of thinking away (Ephesians 4:14).
As Romans makes clear, we are saved by grace through faith alone, but the fruit of that salvation will compel us to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).
Society will continually have us fighting over which cause, type of person, or set of gifting is greatest in the kingdom. We could change our opinion of who has value and what is worthwhile based on the whims of culture. Testing these conclusions against Scripture, giving the benefit of the doubt, and serving shoulder-to-shoulder with other believers is practicing Biblical discernment.
As God is faithful to grow and sanctify us, we can look at ourselves and each person in our life, thanking God for every gift. No one is insignificant in the kingdom of God. We can also look to our own hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of any division that we need to confess and seek forgiveness for.
Christ is the unifying head of our body—won’t he do it?
16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. – Ephesians 4:16
This is so beautiful.
Thank you for sharing your heart from todays bible readings. I learn from many of you because God has laid great insight on your hearts. I am a missionary and one things I tell our ministry team is that we are working shoulder-by-shoulder. I am not superior to the nationals because I am a missionary. I am to work together with the team God is forming here so we can each take our significant role in the body of Christ. Sometimes we must humble ourself to work as one, and sometimes we must have the confidence that can only come from God to work as one. Meaning, sometimes we feel superior and other times we feel inadequate, but no matter, we can work shoulder-by- shoulder as one. I love the picture that we all are part of the body, we all have a role that is no more or less important than another. We all have to be in communication for the body to function well, and we all must be sensitive to the voice of the Lord to clearly understand our function so the body can go on well. If someone feels insignificant then the body cannot work smoothly, if someone take on too much of the load than that part of the body will become weak… it’s complex, but also beautiful. We are all important in the work of the Lord!
Kimberly Z – thank you for pointing out the need to cleanse from social media. I pray that God strengthens you and leads you in this endeavor. I, too, have the problem (addiction?) of spending too much time on social media. I ask for your prayers.
♥️
What a great reminder today as I am often stuck in scrolling paralysis from social media. I need to do a cleanse from it because it does take up so much of my time. @MERCY – love your comment about wanting to stay a small side business because I too have felt that prompt but often hold myself back out of fear. Praying you find a way to go for it and that it works for you and your family. @RHONDA J – praying for your back pain and you find ways to be thankful for things like your pain group. Happy Friday ladies! Praying for all of your requests.
What a great reminder today as I am often stuck in scrolling paralysis from social media. I need to do a cleanse from it because it does take up so much of my time. @MERCY – love your comment about wanting to stay a small side business because I too have felt that prompt but often hold myself back
looking at other ppl and thanking God for their gifts can be a game changer…need to do this more often!!
One body, many parts – working together to accomplish God’s will: unity in the faith, unity in the knowledge of God, and becoming mature. (Ephesians 4:12-13) God has designed the “body” so beautifully. He has gifted each of us in a particular way to accomplish His purpose and to fulfill His plan. But in order to be successful, we must each do our part but also work together. We are all needed, not one of us is insignificant. Don’t fall into the trap that I so often fall into – thinking I have no gifts, nothing to offer or that what he or she has to offer is better than what I can. I constantly have to remind myself – it is God who gives out the gifts, His choice for each of us. I want to practice being thankful for the gifts He has given me – and stop complaining about the gifts He hasn’t given to me but has given to someone else. His way not mine. His way is perfect – mine is not!
Blessings to all of you – have a wonderful evening! See you all here tomorrow!