ONE BODY WITH MANY MEMBERS

As a very small part of my back was healing from a mole removal requiring several stitches last year, I kept being reminded of Paul's message to the Corinthians regarding "one body with many members." No member of my physical body, as Paul described, can say to another, "I have no need of you." I had taken my back for granted before I discovered that it would need special attention for a number of weeks. The special attention required sacrifices on my part. For example, I had to figure out another way to fall asleep since my back hurt if I put pressure on it. I had to give up a scheduled bike trip so I might avoid the possibility of pulling sutures. I feared malignancy until I received a benign report. The required bandaging created more pain on surrounding skin. I had to give all of my attention to one small part of my body in order for my whole body to be in the best working condition. St. Paul continued: "If one member suffers, all suffer together with it. God so arranged the body, giving greater honor to the inferior member, so that members may have the same care for one another." We are the body of Christ and individually members of it. We are called as Christians in the body of Christ to suffer with all those members of the body that we "think less honorable." "There must be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another." Let us always be looking for ways we may suffer with one another, bringing about reconciliation with every last and least child of God.

— Ginny Johnson

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist