1 Corinthians 12:21-26 

²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²²On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

The Weakest Link

What is your favorite game show on TV? Have you watched the TV show, “The Weakest Link,” yet? In the game show, “The Weakest Link,” contestants would take turns answering general knowledge questions and then, they would vote who could be the weakest link to be eliminated and removed from the team. And, the strongest link or contestant who remains in the game will be the winner.

Elimination of the weakest link could be entertaining, and the principle of elimination has personal application. If you were to eliminate the weakest link in your body, what could it be? You eliminate an aching tooth; wash dry cells away; cut excess hair; shorten long nails. You eliminate the less important body parts.

Together now, let us seriously reflect on what it says in Ephesians 5:23,

²³Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

Christ saved believers to become part of his body, the church. By God’s grace through faith, we believe that our Lord Jesus Christ has saved us from the penalty of sin, eternal torture; he saved us from the power or influence of sin, so that, we reject being pressured by sin but we follow godly righteousness. We will not be bothered by sin anymore when Christ returns and takes us into heaven.

Genuine Christians are essential to Christ. Do you sense your essentiality to the Lord? Someone may argue: “I have faith in Christ; I am assured that when he returns, Christ will take me with him into his heaven. So, why do I still attend a church?” Together, let us seriously reflect on what it declares in Romans 12:3-5.

³Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,  ⁵so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

          Listen carefully: “How do you obey the godly command, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought?” Don’t be exempted from church activities! How do we prove that we belong to the church? We regularly attend church!

Christians who belong to the body of Christ belong to his church. Members of the body of Christ should be part of the church. Practically, what is our proof that we belong to the body of Christ? Regularly attend church services/activities!

If you’re health conscious, you regularly exercise to shed bad cholesterols from your body. Bad cholesterols are not original part of the body; cholesterols come from food we eat, so it is best for the health to get rid of bad cholesterols. Church participation is spiritual exercise that could shed spiritual cholesterols.

Reflect on what it declared in 1 John 2:19, ¹⁹They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

Meditatively ask: “Am I essential part of the body of Christ, the church?” Involvement in the church encourages every part of the body of Christ. Each of us is significant, necessary and crucial. You are important to the church. You are vital part of the body of Christ. Don’t exempt yourself. Don’t regard yourself more highly than other believers. Accept and regard your function as indispensable.

1.  Regard

²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²²On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 

How should we regard each part of the body of Christ as indispensable?

Some factions in the Corinthian church may have regarded other groups as less important in their congregation and caused a problem of division among them. It was apparent that some of them regarded themselves as indispensable, and they regarded others who were not part of their group as not very relevant.

Apostle Paul compared the Christian church to physical body. Each part of the body is indispensable and essential. Similarly, all believers are indispensable and essential parts of the body of Christ, the church. We are parts of the body of Christ. We’re indispensable and essential parts of the church, the body of Christ. We need each other in the church to function actively and participate regularly.

Reflect now and ask yourself: “Am I indispensable part of the church, the body of Christ? How essential is my function or my responsibility in the church?”

Preference

It is wise to prepare for possible seasonal challenges when driving. Check the air condition in summer. Check the heater in winter. In the fall and spring, fill to maximum the washer fluid tank of your car. And make sure that you fill your washer fluid tank with right washer fluid. So, do you enjoy driving in summer, fall, winter, spring? Which season of the year do you enjoy driving along busy street?

When driving in spring along busy highway, the windshield is messy dirty.

One time, I was driving along busy street in spring; I ran out of washer fluid. It is by the grace of God that there was a store along the way. So, I bought washer fluid. It’s a scary experience to drive when the windshield is covered with dirt.

Driving challenges patience. On busy street, reckless drivers care less if messy dirt would splash or not on other’s vehicles; it’s not funny moment.

At home, at the park, even in the church and wherever we are situated in a society, there will always be careless and reckless individuals. Washer fluid is very essential to wipe away dirt from windshield. Likewise when our senses are clouded by challenging concerns of life and ministry activities, who’ll refresh us?

Together, let us seriously reflect of what Christ had declare in John 4:14,

¹⁴Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Christ can refresh us to experience life in its fullness. How do we live our life to its fullness despite struggles and concerns in life? We pray that the Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control in us and inspires us to respect each other. Fullness of life is expressed in our regard and respect for each other as indispensable to us.

2.  Respect

²³and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 

God saw that all he had made was very good. But our limited capability cannot see clearly what God considers as very good. We admire the presentable part, and most often, we ignore the unpresentable part of us or it may bother us.

If our hair is really good and presentable, we like it very much. If our hair is not presentable, we treat them with special care. Do you appreciate your white hair? Some people stain or dye their hair. Do you appreciate your original teeth? Young or old cannot, and they spend much money just to have fancy braces.

If you don’t like your skinny arms, then spend more time in the gym. Many people wish to have fairly pale or light skin. Are you surprised that parents are very happy with their new born infant? Many parents publish online pictures of giggling infants and even crying infants, why? Infants are so pretty cute to watch.

Practically, new born infants are a picture of the very good work of God. But infants should not remain as infants; they need to grow. Infants need milk.

Together, let us seriously reflect on what it declares on Hebrews 5:12-14.

¹²In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Milk is nutritious food for infants. We eat solid food when we matured. The Scripture is our spiritual milk. But as we practice biblical righteousness, we also grow spiritually mature. Challenges and temptations of life are essential tests, if we have grown spiritually mature. Christ declared in John 14:6, ⁶I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

Jesus Christ is the truth; what he says is true, and we follow what he says.

We follow the truth. The Holy Spirit guides us as we follow Jesus Christ, the Straight Way to God the Father. The Scripture prescribes Christian behavior.

Experts suggest that when you buy dog as your pet, consider its behavior.

What breed of dog will you choose if you were to buy a puppy as your pet?

Doberman

Do you like Doberman puppies? The ears of Doberman puppies are floppy and do not stand straight like the ears of mature Doberman dog. Did you know?

Most often, Doberman dogs are featured with straight up ears. How’s that? The floppy ears of Doberman puppies are taped and fastened to training sticks for several weeks. They also cut excess parts of the ears to make them lighter.

Spiritually, when we are still young in our faith in Christ, we need practice on how we may straighten in biblical righteousness. The Holy Spirit is our guide. He teaches us how we may practically apply the Scriptural lessons. Reflect on what it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

How can we rejoice always in all circumstances or give thanks in good or not very good moments? Continually pray and follow as the Holy Spirit leads. He may convict you when you hear the will of God for you. Our human tendency is to resist or oppose him. We must test if it is spiritually good and reject what is evil.

Again, we prayerfully ask God to let his Holy Spirit in us produce fruit of joy and peace. In the midst of unpleasant circumstances, may we rejoice always!

3.  Rejoice

²⁵so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

It is clear that Apostle Paul desired unity in the Corinthian church and not divided subsequently. Each part of physical body is essential. Likewise, believers should have equal concern in the church. Together, let us reflect on what we are advised us in Romans 12:15-16, ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Truly, it’s much pleasant when parts of our physical body move together in harmony. We need coordination of each part of our body, especially, body parts that are directly involved in any activity. When we walk, run, jump or swim, both hands and feet should move along together harmoniously. Our eyes, ears, nose, mouth may not walk, but every part of our body needs to be synchronized.

If you compete in marathon, you train and prepare for possible things that may help you run smoothly. Use glasses to protect your eye. You drink water.

When running, you breathe with your nose; you drink water through your mouth. Your heart pumps blood. You consider all possible practical helps to win, if not jus survive the competition. And your ears should be alert to hear signals.

Marathon

Someone participated in marathon; he was very near the Finish Line. But then, he turned and followed a different direction he assumed that could lead him to the Finish Line. Then he was told that he was leading to the wrong direction. It was unfortunate for him that he lost some precious moments. And runners who were behind the confused runner, arrived at the Finish Line way ahead of him.

Let’s reflect what Christ warned the disciples in Matthew 19:27-30, ²⁷Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” ²⁸Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Apostle Peter practically explained that they left their worldly life to follow Christ. And if we seriously follow Christ, he assured that he already prepared hundred times practical things we left for his sake. Blessed are you who seriously follow the prescriptions of the Lord Jesus Christ until he comes. Many people are attracted and follow worldly entertainments. Christians are not exempted.

Anyone can be personally confused. Anyone could be bothered by career, studies, personal or family matter, the economy or politics or even current news around the world. Is it very easy for you to soundly sleep well at night? Christian leaders who are pretty busy preparing for church activities and other religious concerns, may complain and groan of their personal need to rest physically also.

Reflect on what Christ invites everyone in Matthew 11:28-30, ²⁸Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Farmers fasten yoke on pairs of oxen, an older and a rookie. The older ox is expert of the work in the field, and the rookie ox could be stronger but needs to know how to keep its steps with the expert ox. Similarly, Christ’s prescription in the Scripture is his yoke; the Holy Spirit is expert in helping us follow the Lord.

So, could we sense physical and spiritual rest when we are yoked together with the Holy Spirit and obey the prescription of Christ? As the Holy Spirit helps us follow the Lord, we sense peaceful gladness. So, prayerfully seek inspiration of the Holy Spirit and follow his prescription for you. It’s the only way to find out.

Furthermore, the work of the Holy Spirit is practically manifested when we are synchronized and harmoniously participate in the church activities. Concern for each other in the church is practicum for Christian behavior. Our behavior in public places reveals how much biblical lesson we learned together at church.

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