1 Corinthians 12
Scripture 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Observation-What does it say?: Because the city of Corinth is a trade hub, where people from different cultural backgrounds and far off locales converged, we see how God’s grace is truly meant for all people. Paul points out that we are all subject to Christ and the Holy Spirit, who poured out grace and spiritual gifts on us. Furthermore, we are dependent on the other members of our body in fulfilling God’s will in the world and in our individual lives. Because of the nature of the city, there couldn’t have been a better place to show the impartiality of God’s love. God loves us no matter what our background, and he gives us gifts based on his need.
Understanding-What does it mean?: It seems to me, in retrospect, the trying times in my life have been some of the best times in my life. They are never fun in the moment, but I always seem to learn and grow the most. They are also the times that I have experienced the love of the church the most, and was able to see my dependence on others.
While living in Oregon during bible college, I came down with the most painful stomach ache of my life. I ended up in the hospital for a few days, with no sign of what the cause was. I ended up having to have “exploratory surgery.” When the doctor told me what was going to happen, I was in so much pain that my concern for what “exploratory” meant didn’t matter. I wanted the pain to stop, and I didn’t care how it happened. During the surgery, the doctor found my small intestine had wrapped around a piece of scar tissue from another surgery. This blocked my small intestine and cut a hole in the wall of that organ.
I spent almost a month in the hospital while I recovered. While there, I was visited by a large number of my class mates and people from church. They prayed over me and offered love and encouragement in an overwhelming way. I had only been in school for about two months before going into the hospital, so I barely knew any of these people. But, God was showing me how much I needed other people. He was showing me how much I needed to depend on Him. In my best times, I tend to act like I don’t need others and that I can take care of myself. But when I am struggling, I experience God’s love and provision through the kind acts of the church body.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians that Jesus is the “head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (1:22-23). When we act in our area of gifting, we are helping to make the body work how it should. Where I lack, others may excel, and I can only thank God for those around me.
Life Application: Jesus, help me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and how I am gifted. I know that my gifting is meant for a certain purpose in Your will and plan. Thank you for the diversity of the people you have called to work for you, that through all of the parts of the body You are glorified.
-Tyler Galloway