What Adds To Your Worth?

The Holy Bible

      As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.
      But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of.

The Message: 1 Corinthians 12:18–19

Thoughts:

I love the words of Paul as he taught the church at Corinth, who were obviously challenged with working together with each other to accomplish the work of the church. We may sometimes say that they were off doing their ‘own thing’! Paul cautioned that no matter how significant they thought they were, it is only because of the added strength and combined qualities of the body (the church) with whom they were associated with, and worked together with, for the common cause of Christ. So I reflected on the success, or lack thereof, of the local church today. I realize that the primary source of strength for the  local church comes from God. But I also know that we, the people, are the church, and if we are to be collectively effective in ministry for our Lord, then we must make every effort to work as one. Paul likens the church to the human body, in that the hand can’t get across town to do anything for a person in need without the feet to carry it, the heart to provide the blood and every part of the body to do it’s part. Likewise, we must remember that the church will not be productive if we can’t get ourselves together and work towards the same goal of ministry. Think about it friends, if we don’t display love one for another, or if we are always gossiping about other members, how effective will our words – our ministry, be when we go before the unsaved person? Don’t we realize that successful ministry is only possible when the unsaved see us come before them with a clear expression of Christ’s characteristics, and a working part of the local church? Unfortunately, our inability to work together with the local church is a clear deficiency of Christ’s qualities in our lives. I can confidently assure you that it’s not our Brother or our Sister in deep trouble and causing havoc in our lives, but it’s me oh Lord standing in the need of prayer? How is it with you friend? Anything you need to reconcile with God to help you be a useful part of the local church body?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus I plead with you today to touch my heart, and the hearts of Your people who are struggling so much to get over self and truly recognize that they are only who they are because of what they are a part of, as declared by Paul. Father I believe that it is probably more important now than ever before that Christians fully exemplify You, so that the unsaved may catch a glimpse of the Father. Lord, I pray that we might truly unite as a true church, a true representation of You. Please touch Your people once again Lord, so that we may truly set self aside and allow You to reign in and through us to accomplish Your work set aside for the church. I ask this humbly in the name of Jesus, my savior, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the .devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray.