Friday, May 22, 2026

Opening Scripture

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:8-11

Opening Prayer

Gracious Father, I believe you are able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine, according to your power at work within me. Help me to trust you today to meet all my needs. May your love and peace be present and evident in my life. May others see Jesus in me. In His name I pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

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. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

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.

Reflection  

In today’s passage, Paul continues his instruction on “spirituals” (pneumatikōn). In our consideration of spiritual matters, it is important to remember that any manifestation of the Holy Spirit at work in the world is a miraculous occurrence.

Keep in mind what we saw in our study of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The power (dynameōs) God provides for His children is the working (energeian) of His mighty strength. The English words “dynamite” and “energy” are at play here. God’s miracle-working power is able to overcome any and all obstacles! It is the same power that:

• raised Jesus from the dead,
• restored Jesus to His original position in the heavenly realms,
• placed everything under Jesus’ feet, and
• established Jesus as the Head of the Church.

Again, that’s the power of God, active in the appropriate exercising of spiritual gifts on behalf of the body of Christ. It is a sacred function empowered and enabled by Almighty God for His purpose and glory. It flies in the face of “doing church” in any sort of proud, independent, self-serving, or self-sufficient way.

Paul’s opening statement essentially outlines today’s passage. “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” There’s a “dependent mutuality” among the various parts of our human bodies, with each “member” contributing its unique function. The same is true in the body of Christ.

In Paul’s instruction about spiritual gifts and the ministry functions within the church, he mentions apostles (first), prophets (second), and teachers (third), but he fails to include evangelists and shepherds, as he did in his letter to the Ephesians (APEST). It seems that Paul wanted to elevate these three roles as particularly needed in the Corinthian church. Members serving in these functions would call out and correct the selfishness and showiness of the immature believers.

The fact that ALL followers of Jesus – regardless of background, gender, or status in society – were equal members of the body of Christ, gifted by God to contribute to the Corinthian church’s health and mission, was truly a radical concept.

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

Each part of the human body is designed to contribute to the benefit of the whole. No individual part of the body can successfully exist on its own. As much as you may appreciate one of your senses or functions, it has limited value separate from the rest.

We may especially appreciate one of the ministries of the church, but it has limited value separate from the rest. God intends for each person and each ministry to contribute to the whole. The Corinthian believers were guilty of prioritizing and celebrating some spiritual gifts and ministry functions over others. As such, they were stunted and “disfigured” as the body of Christ.

Last month, when we explored this topic, I shared the acrostic SHAPE to help you consider how God has uniquely shaped you to serve Him. I want to remind you about that again and encourage you to do another self-assessment.

Spiritual Gifts. What is your spiritual gift? God wants to use it for His glory and the church’s good. Ask the Spirit to help you develop and use it well.

Heart. What are you passionate about? What motivates and pumps you up? God wants to use what excites you for His glory and purpose.

Abilities. What are you good at? What are the natural talents you were born with? What does your body or brain find it easy to do that others might struggle with?

Personality. Are you more withdrawn or outgoing? Are you a “thinker” or “feeler”? Are you more silly or serious? God can use it all for His glory!

Experiences. We are all shaped by our experiences… good and bad. Your education, injuries, successes, and failures can all be used by God to accomplish His purpose. In fact, God often uses our most painful experiences to help others.

Once you begin to discover your unique SHAPE, trust God with it. Give yourself to Him and ask Him to use you for His glory. Resist the temptation to compare yourself to someone else. Instead, be the best YOU that you can be.

What are some of the factors that make up your unique SHAPE?

What contribution are you making to your church?

How are you exercising your giftedness for the common good?

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!