Devotion #14

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ works through each individual member of His body to accomplish His unique vision for New Covenant Bible Church.

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 12:12-18

I remember a number of years ago when Dr. Emerson Eggerichs and his wife, Sarah, came to New Covenant and led a Love & Respect conference. Emerson explained that married couples often say things just do not work out because the couples are so opposite. Emerson’s response to this weak excuse was great. He said, “If both the husband and the wife were the same, one of them would not be necessary.”

In our passage today, Paul takes a look at the body of Christ with all its different members and spiritual gifts and compares it to the human body with all its dissimilar members. No member is more important than the other, but for these bodies to operate efficiently and productively, they must function in harmony. If not, they both will die.

At New Covenant, we are a body of growing disciples. On any given day of the week, a person can walk through the halls of the church and experience and see the many spiritual gifts with which the Lord has blessed us. No one is more important than the other, but each person has his or her unique contribution to the whole body.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

-----

Today's Author

Ed Luebe

My name is Ed Luebe. My wife Christine and I have been married for 22 years, and we are the parents of Melissa Harkness (husband Ben), Grant and Trevor. Christine and I have been attending New Covenant our entire married life.

For the past 20 years, I have worked in the financial industry as an investment consultant. At New Covenant, I currently serve on the Elder Board and am part of a leadership team for Men’s Fraternity and the Marriage Matters ABF.

Comments

[Bob Westfall]

Thanks, Ed, for your devotional. One thought I had was how dangerous comparison is in the church. Just because I can't teach 4 year olds like Miss Colette, doesn't mean I don't have a unique role in the church. Comparing ourselves to others and concluding we have nothing to offer is a tool of our adversary the devil. If all us were "eyes" where would our sense of smell be?

[Pat Rieck]

This scripture also reflects the need to be on journey in community! We are not at NCBC by accident - vs. 18 "..in fact God has arranged the parts in the body . . just as He wanted" What a joy to see individuals stepping up to use their God-given gifts and abilities for the body of Christ to fulfill Christ's mission for the church.

[Ed Luebe]

Bob & Pat - Great comments. We all have a unique gift and the body misses out when we don't exercise that gift. Thanks Bob for the reminder during yesterdays message that we exercise this God-given gift with grace and authenticity.

[Tye Male]

I saw this passage in a completely different light this morning. I have always thought of it in terms of others rather than myself. I thought of it as comparing one another and a sort of spiritual sizing up of each other's gifts, like Bob mentioned.

Today I actually thought about it in terms of the fact that my gift is as important as everyone else's, regardless of quantity. I once said "I wish I had more money so I could do more for the Kingdom" and very wise person stopped me right there and said that I really had all I needed and God could use what I have.

Great devo Ed.

[Martha Troxel]

I am glad that we all have a spot in the body of Christ and the local church at NCBC!

[Linda Agrimson]

Praise the Lord for those with behind the scenes gifts who so willing serve without much recognition. We all need to thank them, because without them, the up front ones may not look so good! :)

[Donna Smejkal]

Thanks, Ed. I was reminded that God doesn't play favorites with His kids and neither should we. Each has a unique and important role in His family.