The Bible knows nothing of self-sufficient
members of the body of Christ.
As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 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.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that
seem to be weaker are indispensable, 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, which our more presentable parts do not require.
But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to
the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that
the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if
one member is honored, all rejoice together. (1 Corinthians 12:20-26)
In this passage there are people who
are compared to various parts of the human body. Some are compared to eyes and some are
compared to hands. There are people
compared to heads and people compared to feet.
There are people who "seem to be weaker” and there are people who
have a less honorable appearance. This
is not referring to the presence of sin, but having less prominence, or
distinction, or being less flashy or outstanding.
Each of these parts, each of these
people, are a necessary part of the body.
The body needs that part for wholeness and health and fulfilling God’s
purposes, and that individual part needs the body for wholeness and health and
fulfilling God’s purposes.
Instead of saying “I don’t need you”
we are to “have the same care for one another”.
Declaring to the body “I don't need you”, whether in actual words or
lack of involvement with the body, is both spiritually immature and spiritually
dangerous.
One of the ways we declare our love
and support for each other is through our participation in corporate
worship. Meeting together for worship is
one way we encourage one another and help each other keep our focus on Jesus
and His kingdom. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Gathering together for worship with
our local church family points us to the worship of the universal church, and
the reality that one day we will gather for perfect worship and fellowship at
the “marriage supper of the Lamb” with a great multitude of people from every
tribe, tongue and nation (Revelation 19:9).
This Sunday we will be reminded of
this great gathering there as we gather
here at the table of our Lord and
share in Communion. As we share in the
Lord’s Supper we worship Him, remembering His perfect sacrifice and how He gave
Himself up for His bride, His body, the church. (Ephesians 5:25) We also do this with each other in mind as we
“proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (I Corinthians 11:26)
J.I
Packer said, “Any theology that does
not lead to song is, at a fundamental level, a flawed theology”. (Challies.com)
In all of our singing we
seek to sing the great theological truths of Scripture. The theology of the church, Jesus’ love for
His church, and the meaning and significance of the Lord’s Supper are all the
basis of this song that will be sung this Sunday in worship, How Beautiful, by Twila Paris. Listen to the lyrics, read them and think on
them, using them as a basis for prayerful preparation for gathering with the
body of Christ for worship.
How beautiful the hands that served
the wine and the bread
and the sons
of the earth.
How beautiful the feet that walked
the long dusty roads
and the hills to
the cross.
How beautiful;
how beautiful;
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
How beautiful the heart that bled
that took all my sin
and bore it
instead.
How beautiful the tender eyes
that chose to forgive
and never despise.
How beautiful;
how beautiful;
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
And as He laid down His life
we offer this sacrifice,
that we will live just as he died:
willing to pay the price;
willing to
pay the price.
How beautiful the radient Bride
who waits for her Groom
with His light
in her eyes.
How beautiful when humble hearts give
the fruit of pure lives
so that
others may live.
How beautiful;
how beautiful;
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
How beautiful the feet that bring
the sound of good news
and the love of
the King.
How beautiful the hands that serve
the wine and the bread
and the sons
of the earth.
How beautiful,
how beautiful,
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
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