Friday, February 2, 2024  

---

Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 12:12–27

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. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 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 members, yet one body. 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.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (NRSV)

---

Reflection

We need each other, deeply and thoroughly. Together we are a functioning body. Together we are able to receive love and give love. Together we are able to support each other when we are at a loss.

The image of the unity and diversity of a body is a powerful one, but another image I love is the image of a flower garden. The beauty of the garden comes from all of the plants playing their role and expressing their own beauty. When a blossom blooms thoroughly, the beauty of the whole is even more great.

In life not one of us is capable of all things. In those places and times where we lack the capacity, there are others who have capacity. If we can rely on each other, support and bless each other, we become more beautiful as a collective, as a garden, as a body with many parts, functioning well, and adding to the glory of God‘s creation.

---

Prayer
Gracious and loving God, help me to realize the gifts and capacities that you have given me. Help me to blossom fully so that I may shine and add to the glory of your world. Help me to honor and celebrate the gifts of others, for I need their gifts! Amen.

---

Written by Nanette Sawyer, Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Small Group Ministry

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email