"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." (1 Corinthians 12:12). As Christians, we are all one in Christ. We may be individuals, different in one way or in every way; but because we all serve Christ, we are all one part in the body of Christ.
"For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and all were made to drink one spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13) God does not look at race, money, class, worldly power, or anything like it. He knows us and has always known us since before we were even birthed into this Earth. If we are with Christ, we are one with Him and it does not matter what the world says. We all operate in the one true Spirit of God. No matter what the world sees, we are one with Christ, equally important in our different roles. "For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 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 part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'because I am not am eye, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less part of the body." (1 Corinthians 12:14-16) Just because you are not doing what your Christian friend is doing does not mean that you are not a Christian. Just because you are not healing people or guiding people to Christ personally, does not make you any less a member of the body of Christ. It just means that God has a different role for you at the moment. Will you be obedient to Him or to your own desires to be holy and "important?"
"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? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body." (1 Corinthians 12:17-20) We must not all strive to be like Pastor so-and-so or Bishop what's-his-name or elder what's-her-face. God has a specific role for you in His life! Maybe He wants you up stage and maybe He doesn't. Whatever He is going to have you do is something that only you can do, just as He has people doing things that only they can do. We must not all try to be the same, but unified in our differences.
"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need for 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 greatest honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with great modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the parts that lack 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 12:21-26) There is no division within the body. No one role is more important that the other. The one who leads a person to Christ is no more important than the one who planted the seed in the first place. The one on stage preaching or singing is no more important that the one at the door or cleaning the toilets. Every role is essential, and no one person can run a whole body. Everyone has specific roles that they must do to the fullest; but never be discouraged, because God honors your heart, not your title.
"Now you are the body of Christ and individually member of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way." (1 Corinthians 12:27-31) We are all individual members of Christ. We all bring a specific role to the body. I have never spoken in tongues or healed before, but I know that God has put me in another place. Because I was seeking my gifts, God has shown me where He wants me to be and what He wants me to do.
No one person can run a whole church, and no church body can all be run by musicians or pastors. There must be an array of different people to bring different qualities to the body of Christ. We must not get jealous of someone who does something for God that we wanted to do. Instead, praise God for that person and ask God, "what is my role in your body?" Even if you do not know yet, God will show you once you are ready to learn it.
-D
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