For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

I Corinthians 12:13

The Holy Spirit makes one from many.  Our text points this out in a very graphic way.  He describes the general composition of the ancient world. He reflects his own cultural background when he speaks of ‘Jews and Greeks.’  What he is describing is how a person of his culture would view the society of the ancient world.  There were the Jews, and everyone else, as described by the term, ‘Greeks’ or ‘Gentiles.’  The ancient world also consisted of ‘slaves or free.’  Once again, this is a broad description of ancient society.  Paul says that the Holy Spirit baptizes people from all of these broad categories into the Body of Christ.  Here is true unity from wide diversity.  It is a unity which brings together these widely diverse people into a united Body which will ultimately last for all eternity.  Christ is the Common Denominator in the lives of all these people.  What was true then is true now.  We live in a world of wide diversity.  What can bring unity into that world which will genuinely contribute to the promotion of what is good?  It will be our vital relation to Christ as we unify around Him and are in Him, as baptized by His Spirit.  We who are many will truly become one. 

Our Gracious Master and Our God,
we rejoice that Christ is the great unifier of His people.
We praise You that the Holy Spirit is constantly working
to bring us more thoroughly together,
until we gather around the throne of Grace.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked.

I Corinthians 12:24

One of the primary rules for an infantry soldier is to take care of his feet.  The reason is that he will not fulfill his primary purpose as an infantryman, unless his feet take him where he needs to go.   Everything else he does proceeds upon the basis that he can walk.  We may not consider the feet to be some of the more honorable parts of our body, however, consider how much of our life depends upon our feet being able to take us where we need to go.  So God has bestowed greater honor on this part of the body which we may consider to be less honorable, than some other part which is more high profile.  It is the same with the Body of Christ.  There are many members of the Body of Christ who occupy the role of the feet.  If it were not for these people, the Body would not go anywhere.  They are content to be in the low position, to be the last to attract attention, to function effectively, even though the rest of the Body may nearly take them for granted.  They are the foundation of everyone above them.  They are the parts upon which God has bestowed greater honor.  God has made them the vital members of the Body of Christ.  Wherever God has placed us, we may serve Him.  He has made us who we are, and what we are, in order that we may accomplish the purpose for which He has designed us.

Our Good and Kind God,
we rejoice that You have made us as we are.
We praise You that we may serve You
in the role that You have given us,
and thereby to glorify You and magnify Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

Nay, much more these members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

I Corinthians 12:22-23

In the Body of Christ, who is really important?  If we look at the subject casually, we are going to perhaps come to the conclusion that the high profile members are the most important.  Having said that, we should consider carefully the contributions which other parts of the body make to the good of the whole.  Paul is discussing the relationship that exists between the various parts of the Body of Christ.  He is using the analogy of the human body.  His central point in our text is that the parts of the body which we deem less honorable or less worthy of honor, upon those we bestow greater honor.  Perhaps we consider our hair to be particularly attractive, important or honorable.  We pay attention to it, wash it, comb it, and arrange it.  We may think our feet to be less honorable.  However, the hair is not going anywhere, the feet do not take it.  So, it is in the Body of Christ.  If we understand the relationship of the parts of the Body of Christ correctly, we will appreciate the less honorable parts and the contribution they make to the welfare of the whole.  Thus, Christ receives the glory for the way in which His Body functions.

Our Gracious Master and our God,
we rejoice that You have given us
a role to play in the Body of Christ.
We praise You that wherever we fit within it,
we accomplish the purpose which You intend for us,
that we may bring You glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?  If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  And if they were all one member, where were the body?  But now are they many members, yet but one body.

I Corinthians 12:17-19

Why are we not all the same?  Paul addresses this as he discusses the Body of Christ.  He has established that we are one body, and also that we are many members.  He is exploring the relationships of those various members to each other.  In our text he points out that everyone cannot be the same or there would not be a fully functioning body.  Everyone cannot be the eye or the ear or the nose.  The success of the body overall depends on having various, different abilities, and upon the parts that have those abilities performing their roles.  This becomes useful for us to understand why the people of God are as we are.  We can appreciate and admire the diversity which exists in the Body of Christ while understanding that everyone does not have to look the same or operate in exactly the same way.  ‘If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?’  God has made each of us who we are, as we are, because we fulfill a purpose in the larger scheme of things that is exactly that for which He has prepared us.  Thus, the differing abilities which we have are useful in the Body to bring glory to Christ, Who is the Head overall.

Our Good and Wise God,
we rejoice that You value variety.
We praise You that You have given us our different abilities,
so that we being many, may contribute to the whole.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning