Operating Within The Body of Christ

 

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” (Romans 12:3-5) 

This is a picture we all need to grasp firmly in our hearts as we strive for excellence in the service of our Lord and Savior. The Apostle Paul received a revelation of the operation of the Church as a whole. He envisioned us as a body with different members much like our fleshly body has different members, yet no member being more important to the total function, makeup and operation than the others. Just as our hand has a different function than our foot, we would not say that one is of greater importance to our physical body, but each has its own purpose. Each part is essential for the proper operation of the body. We would not say that, because it is not seen or it isn’t attractive to the eye, that the heart is of no value to the body. Now that would be absurd! So it is with the body of Christ, the Church. 

In I Corinthians 12:4-31, Paul gives a more detailed explanation of the differing gifts within the Body, pointing out that each function of the Body is necessary, including those members which seem weaker or less honorable than the others. It is the Holy Spirit who distributes each gift within the Church as He wills. (vs.11) And in verse 25, he points out that there should be no division in the Body, but that the members are to care for one another. And he instructs in verse 26, “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”  What a beautiful portrait of a healthy, active Body, which is in Christ Jesus. 

Now let us look at another member of the Body: “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18)  Our physical head is the control center, which sends messages to the other parts of the body to dictate their functions and operations. It is our head (brain-center), which sends the message to our foot to take a step, or to our hand to grasp an object. Suppose for a moment the hand decided it would walk today. That would be silly, wouldn’t it? Then we can understand that each member of Christ’s Body (the Church) should accept their own function as they are given direction from the Head, which is Christ. Would a person who has been given by the Holy Spirit the function of a teacher operate well as an evangelist? Of course not! Then why do we puff ourselves up and boast of the operations we have been given within the Body? Colossians 2:18-19 tells us, “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.” It is God who gives the faith and the direction so that the Body of Christ, the Church, might be whole and complete, and so that each need within the Church is being fulfilled as each member takes his or her place of operation and performs his or her function or duty or gift as the Head (Christ) dictates. Paul poses the question in 1 Corinthians 12:29-30, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” Of course not! And in Romans 12:6-8 he states. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” As each member performs his or her own job  according to the gifting of the Holy Spirit, then the whole Body operates properly, and in entirety as God designed it to be. 

Let each of us examine our own lives. Are we using our talents and abilities for the purpose God gave them to us? Are we functioning to the fullest capacity in our own area of operation so the whole job gets done? Are we lacking in our job? Or maybe we are trying to do the job of another member of the Body? God didn’t call any of us to do it all, but if each member will fulfill the task God has assigned to him r her, then God will be very pleased, and the total job of the Body will be done. Let us look to Jesus who is the “author and finisher of our faith.” He is the One who will establish us and equip us to take our own place in the whole operation of the Church. As we all seek to please God with our lives, not trying to out-do one another in the Lord, and esteeming others above ourselves, then the will of God will be done, both in our own lives and within the Body of Christ. God may not have called you to be a missionary in some distant land, but He may desire that you take the love of Jesus to that lonely elderly person next door. He may not have called you to stand before thousands and preach the gospel, but He may have you teach Sunday School lessons to a group of 6-year-olds. He may call you to spend countless hours in your prayer closet, where no one will see except Him, interceding for the lost of the world. Is that important? Man may never know, but God knows…and He is the Rewarder of those who humble themselves before Him. So let’s ask ourselves once again, “am I REALLY willing to do whatever God would have me to do?” 

As we come together in unity, may we each affect our portion of the work in the very way that God intends so that each of us, walking in the will of God, may together complete every job that needs to be done, and the Body of Christ will function properly and in perfect order. Praise be to God!!