Gifted to Serve / David Jeremiah

 

Gifted to Serve But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 1 Corinthians 12:18    Due to the embalming of their dead, the ancient Egyptians knew both he internal and external body parts. Jews, however, didn’t embalm their dead. Therefore, when Paul used the human body as a metaphor for the Body of Christ, he referred only to the external body parts (1 Corinthians 12:14-21). Think how rich his metaphor might have been with a modern understanding of human physiology!

Recommended Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 7 – 11

Paul’s point is that just as every part of the human body is important, so is every member of the Body of Christ. Every Christian has a contribution to make for the health of the Church. Commitment of the people to their calling from God was true even in the Old Testament. When the Jews returned from Babylon to Jerusalem, divisions of responsibility were established (Nehemiah 11). Some people were designated to live in Jerusalem, some in the outlying towns. Levites were to reestablish the temple functions, and the choirs were to lead in worship. Landowners grew crops to support the Levites—everyone had a contribution to make. What are you contributing to the health and strength of your local church? God has gifted you to serve in an important way. The church does not need brilliant personalities but faithful servants of Jesus and the brethren. Dietrich Bonhoeffer