The Body

Many of us have read about being the body of Christ. People talk all the time about what is written in 1 Corinthians 12. We talk about how each part of the body is important. How there is no one that is more important than the others.  

I was reading through it again today and was struck by the last verse in the chapter. 

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?  Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?  Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

1 Corinthians 12:27 - 31

The next chapter goes on to talk about the most important thing we can do, LOVE. 

We need to eagerly desire greater gifts but the most excellent way to be a part of the body of Christ is to show love. 

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecyand can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.


Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13

 It makes perfect sense that the most important thing we can do as part of Christ's body is to love. When you think about how Christ came to earth, that he came and was born in a manger, it speaks love.  He came to save all people, wealthy and poor.  

When looking at all the works of Christ's hands it speaks love.  He touched the sick and lame. He healed without discrimination. That is love. 

And the largest act of love there has ever or will ever be was when he gave his life for us. When he, blameless and pure, took on the sins of the world. When he wept as his father turned his face away; That was love. 

We are all a part of the body. Each with its own purpose. But we can be unified in Christ's love. We are to be Jesus' hands and feet, his light to the world. The best way to do that is to love.   

God Bless.  And may he shower his love upon you.