Devotion - Thursday, April 3

I Corinthians 12 speaks of the members of Christ's Church as members of one body.  Each member (like the various members of any body) has a specific purpose.  And the whole of the body depends upon the well-being of each part of the body.

Dr. Joseph Sittler (Gravity and Grace) reminds us of the language in the Common Service Book which spoke to this same reality.  "Almighty God, who has knit together Thine elect in one communion and fellowship....."

If you have ever knitted (or watched someone knit) you know how each stitch is interlocked and interwoven with the next.  If one stitch is dropped the whole line disintegrates.  So it is with this mystical body of Christ, which He has knit together.

There will always be differences of style, personality, opinion among this diverse, multifaceted body.  It is the variety which allows us to come to distinguish one from another; which leads to our finding one more pleasing to our tastes than another; it is how we can identify a best-friend-forever.  The distinguishable nature of the various members makes this possible.  Let us always give thanks for the diversity; and never allow it to lead us to rejection of the parts with which we are less enamored.

We are knit together.  We are each like stitches in a beautiful sweater.  "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."  I Cor 12:26