One Body, Many Parts

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:12

On this American Independence Day, a lesson from history applies to the Body of Christ. Prior to July 4, 1776, there were only thirteen British colonies that existed as separate outposts of the British Empire. But when representatives of those thirteen colonies signed the Declaration of Independence, it was the first step toward becoming one nation instead of thirteen colonies. The founders recognized that there is strength in unity.

It’s called synergy: the strength of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The apostle Paul didn’t know American history, of course, but he recognized the synergy of the human body—individual organs and parts of the body working together to accomplish human goals no individual part could accomplish by itself. And he applied that lesson to the Church, the Body of Christ. Each Christian is given gifts by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11)in order to build up the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).

What is your gift? What is your role? The Body of Christ is only as strong as the participation of all its members!

~ from David Jeremiah “Turning Point”