Today’s readings: 1 Corinthians 12-14, Psalm 138
1 Corinthians 12:21-26
21 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.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 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, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
I can recall very few sermons I’ve heard in my lifetime, and not too many even of my own! But I certainly remember one impactful sermon delivered by a professor at the seminary.
It had been a tumultuous week. Two different professors had preached sermons making sharp points against each other’s views of Scripture. It might not have been obvious to the casual listener. But we seminary students were not a casual lot. We saw what had happened on Tuesday and Wednesday of that week. It was more than a little disheartening – and, sadly, a bit energizing for those of us who agreed with the professor who preached the second sermon. He proved his point!
That’s not how Christian brothers are to relate to each other.
The next day, one of my favorite professors spoke. He taught preaching in the classroom. And that day in chapel, he taught us something even more important from the pulpit.
His message: “Every Christian Counts.”
It was straightforward, memorable, like oil on troubled waters – calming us and calling us all to repentance for treating another believer with anything less than respect and honor.
The issues at Corinth were only a little different. Some were claiming that their gifts of the Holy Spirit were superior. Others considered their gifts inferior. Still others envied those with the more obvious gifts – think miracles, tongues, or prophecy. And some may have assumed that what came easily to them should come easily to others – think evangelism. If I can share the Gospel fearlessly, anyone can do the same.
None of that is true. What is true is that all of us are precious to God. Each of us has gifts that God uses for the good of the body of Christ. And they all come to us by God’s grace – the same grace that sent Jesus into the world to seek and save the lost.
Every Christian counts because every Christian belongs to Christ, who gave his life for us. That includes the brother with whom I disagree, the sister whose gifts I might overlook, and the person whose contribution I might consider insignificant.
They all count. And so do you and I. Not because of what any of us brings to the church, but because of what Jesus has done for us.
Follow the Word is a daily Bible reading and devotional ministry of St. John Lutheran Church, Cypress, Texas.
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