There is a gentle wisdom in the bible that never fails to both confront me and restore me. Every time I open an old passage of Scripture, something comes home to me with a weight and newness I hadn’t felt before. As I was beginning to prepare for this week’s sermon, and was looking at Paul’s assessment of how a church should function, I noticed a line in the passage that stood out with a blessed force: “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” (1Corinthians 12.22) How profoundly true is that statement? What would a church be if it was only made up of those people who like the limelight, who enjoy the powerful public roles in church life, who speak with confidence?
How balancing to a church community are those people who labour quietly, with deep love, in the shadows, away from the glare of the Pulpit or the Committee? How precious are those who make the unsung phone call to the person in grief; who cook biscuits for the discouraged; who provide the smile at the door; who wash the dishes at morning tea? The weaker are indeed indispensable. As you ponder God’s view of how the body of Christ works together, be encouraged: in the body of Christ; the church, everyone has a place. In Christ, all are precious, and not only that, indispensable, we can only do this, if we do it together.
May God bless you this morning,
Your fellow body part,
Rev. Doug.
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