May 6th

The Promise of the Presence of the Power of the Holy Spirit

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. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Think with me about the relationships you have with other people in the body of Christ. How strong are those relationships? What is the focus of those relationships and where do they fall on your priority list?

How many people within your church are there with whom you have a conflict? If they walked in the room, you would feel uncomfortable. Can you think of them?

Hear me now-no matter what our experience is with relationships in the body of Christ-no matter the conflicts, no matter how uncool some of us might be, no matter what-we are one body and we need to start acting like it.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth to address an issue of unity there. Much like now, this was not an isolated problem found in only one church. In fact, Paul addressed similar issues in nearly all of his letters.

The problem was that there were Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free people, and the mindsets behind these divisions were deeply rooted in the people. All these groups and classes of people came together to church. Free people looked down on slaves. Slaves didn't know how to live with freedom in Christ. And Jews and Gentiles had to come together from completely different worlds.

Paul gave them one message to help clear up all the confusion: You are one body. It does not matter who you have been or how the world classifies you, when you believe in Jesus then you become part of His one body, unified and united with all other believers throughout the whole world.

We hear the same message today and it requires us to lay down all of our own agendas, our own preferences, our own way of thinking, so that we can serve and bless one another, helping one another become the part of the body that God created them to be. It requires us to honor one another for who God made them to be, allowing them to contribute what God has given them in a God-honoring way.

Like it or not, we are one body, and we need to start acting like it.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for dying for me! I know that I am a unique part of Your body, but I choose to lay down my own rights so that I can serve my fellow believers. Please help me to unify Your body!

Amen