IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

The Body of Christ

Date: Jun. 22, 2021

Passage

1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (ESV)

12 For 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. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should 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. 16 And if the ear should 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. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21 The 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.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 12:13a

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

1. Baptized by one Spirit into one body (12-26)

Just as our body is made up of many parts, so it is with the church. All Christians are baptized by One Spirit into One body of Christ and each person is a part of the body. Each member is interrelated and interdependent. God doesn't want us to feel inferior or superior to others by comparing our gift or talent or ability with that of others, for each person is precious to Christ and indispensable for the whole body. Therefore, we need to respect and care for each other instead of competing with or ignoring each other so that there may be unity within diversity. Each part of the body must accept its role and place to live in unity in the body of Christ.

2. Diversity of God's gifts in the body (27-31)

In the body of Christ, there are diverse gifts and ministries. Each person must accept God's sovereignty in equipping members of the body with diverse gifts and learn to work together to build up the body of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the unity and diversity in the body of Christ. Help me to respect and love each person in the body of Christ and use the spiritual gifts to build them up.

One Word: One body; Many parts

Daily Bread

Complacent or Victorious?

Revelation 3:1-13

Key Verse: 3:5

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

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