Pages

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

God’s Plan (Now)

Back when the Israelites were returning to rebuild the Temple, they started identifying people who qualified for specific roles like Levite or priest.  That’s because these people were ordained by God to fulfill specific roles.

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. (1 Corinthians 12:18 ESV)

In God’s Church today, the same is true.  God ordains (sets apart) specific people for specific roles in His Body – The Church.

If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (1 Corinthians 12:19-20 ESV)

The key difference between then and now is the number of roles and people involved.  Back then, 1/12 of the tribes were set apart for special God-ordained roles in Israel.  Today, every member of God’s Church is set apart by God to serve in some special way.

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 parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 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, which our more presentable parts do not require. (1 Corinthians 12:21-24 ESV)

When we think about people being set apart for ministry, we usually think of “big roles” like pastor/teacher, elder, overseer, or deacon.  The reality, though, is that every person in God’s Church is set apart for ministry.  Sometimes the most “modest” of ministries are the most impactful.

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (1 Corinthians 12:24-26 ESV)

God’s Plan back then looks much like God’s Plan today.  God wants to empower, equip, and encourage us all to walk together with God.  Now, however, we are all called and set apart to participate in God’s Team.  We cannot say to someone else, “I don’t need you.”

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV)

How about you?  Do you see God’s Church as God’s Team?  Have you ever thought about every member being called by God?  Have you ever thought about every member being set-apart as a minister?  Have you ever said in your mind, “I cannot say, ‘I don’t need you.’”

No comments:

Post a Comment