September 2 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Katie Borden
5 days ago
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

We Are the Body - the Body of Christ

By Katie Borden

At the risk of sounding like the PBS special that you watched in grade school when they rolled the TV cart (or slide projector!) into the classroom:

The human body is amazing!

Over the past year, my family has been in the presence of a lot of medical professionals, and the more information I absorb from doctors and surgeons and occupational therapists, the more astounded I am at the incredible complexity and interconnectedness of the body’s various systems.

This interdependency of the human body is how the apostle Paul talks in 1 Corinthians 12 about our vitally interconnected life as a community in Christ, and I think the point he is making is one that might be especially novel in our modern society. We, in the contemporary Western world, have been socialized to think about our lives as individuals, making decisions in much more of a vacuum than people in generations past or in other cultural contexts. This individualism can translate into our spiritual life as well. We may feel solely responsible for our prayer life, for our spiritual growth, or for our ability to discern the voice of God as we seek guidance in our lives.

But I don’t think that a solely individual spirituality is quite the way the community of Christ functions best.

As Paul reminds us in verses 13 and 14, we are each a part of the greater body of believers in Christ that function together and pour encouragement and guidance into each other. We offer each other our own gifts that enrich and edify everyone's lives when we live them in community. And often, God can speak to us through each other’s perspectives when they are considered faithfully and prayerfully with Scripture as a guide. My spiritual director has helped me recognize that this is true in my own life: I often receive the gifts of God’s goodness, love, and guidance directed toward me through the loving presence of other people.

And the gifts that we share with one another are rarely shared in standout moments. Rather, it’s often in the small acts of communal love where we are acting in our gifting–like a good cook dropping off a casserole on a friend’s doorstep, or two friends taking time to engage in a reflective conversation–that quietly shape our hearts. And when we allow God to both minister to us through others and work in us for others, all of us are shaped more and more into the image of Christ.

The Spirit’s work in the body of Christ is amazing!

PRAYER

God, I thank you that you have given each of us gifts with which to bless each other and build up your body in Christlike love. By the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, open my heart to humbly receive your gifts from others, and open my hands in service to my brothers and sisters. In both our giving and receiving, please shape us ever more into the image of Christ. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KATIE BORDEN

I’m a lifelong member of UALC and have had the privilege of serving our community in both volunteer and staff roles over the years. I love learning, OSU football, good conversations, chocolate croissants, laughter, and sharing about the good news of Jesus in whatever capacity I can.