1 Corinthians 12:14-20

¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Questions to consider:

• How does Paul compare the physical body with the body of Christ?
• How does Paul reconcile unity with diversity among Christians?

Possibilities for prayer:

This is a really important piece of Scripture to me. Acknowledging the significance of every member of Christ’s body is something about which everyone should be aware. Today, let’s take some time to thank God for the other people in the body of our own church communities, for the way that we are all uniquely designed to work together--and let’s ask God to help us learn how to appreciate and encourage everyone’s unique gifts.