1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (NRSV)
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12For 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. Verse 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Verse 14Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. Verse 15If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. Verse 16And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. Verse 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? Verse 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. Verse 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? Verse 20As it is, there are many members, yet one body. Verse 21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." Verse 22On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, Verse 23and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; Verse 24whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, Verse 25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. Verse 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
Verse 27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. Verse 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Verse 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Verse 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Verse 31But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Devotion
“Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it is made up of different parts...”
A growing ministry model in this country is to have a national church body establish a congregation within a state prison. Then, every week at worship, members of an “outside” congregation visit the inmate church. This creates a partnership between the church on the inside and the church on the outside. It is ministry with inmates, not to them or at them or for them.
While it is true that the outsiders are fulfilling Matthew 25 by visiting the imprisoned, it is also true that the inmate members are fulfilling Matthew 25 by welcoming the stranger. If the visitors are a bit wary by the strange surroundings and the clanging metal doors, they are quickly put at ease by the amazing hospitality shown by the inmates. We are one body!
Prayer
Dear God, when criminals are convicted and incarcerated, both they and society seem to develop an “us–them” attitude. Help us to bridge that gap. Amen.