Ministry-More Thoughts
Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we all were baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free people, and we were all caused to drink one Spirit. Furthermore, the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not on that account cease to be part of the body. If the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not on that account cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has arranged the members in the body, each and every one of them, as he desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But as it is, there are many members, yet one body.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12&version=EHV>
As part of my recent contemplation on “gifts and ministry”, I was challenged to examine “how much growth” I have gone through. In that vein, I have gone back into previous Family Table Devotions and I found this:
From The Prison of Darkness
This title comes from Isaiah 42, and also Revelation 2:10. Oh, and where I have been the last couple of weeks.
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26 ESV) “The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 8:15-16 ESV)
Thank you for prayer.
I mean, I thank all of you for your prayer.
I’m not making myself clear, am I? Thank you Father for giving me prayer. Thank you Jesus for teaching me prayer. Thank you Spirit for your prayer when I could not. Thank you dear reader for your prayer. Thank you my friends and brothers in Christ for your prayer. Thank you Pastor for your prayer. And each of you know that I can say with St Paul: We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints. (Col 1:3-4 ESV)
Thank you also for being the Body of Christ “knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:9-10 ESV) As Jesus said. “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)
If you are hurting, please give the Body of Christ a chance to do what it exhorted to do. And Body of Christ: “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 1-2 ESV)
I pray this brings you strength, and
Christ’s Peace
That devotion was written pre-pandemic. Is today a different prison of darkness? St Paul asked, “Where would the body be?” There are many members, yet one body. I am still thinking about gifts and ministry, and Paul’s “theology of the body”.
Trust the Promises
Steve Skiver