Spirit - Love Bonding of a Spiritual Community (12-31-2012)

December 31, 2012 - 1 Corinthians 12:15-26

12:15		設 若 腳 說 、 我 不 是 手 、 所 以 不 屬 乎 身 子 ． 他 不 能 因 此 就 不 屬 乎 身 子 。
12:16		設 若 耳 說 、 我 不 是 眼 、 所 以 不 屬 乎 身 子 ． 他 也 不 能 因 此 就 不 屬 乎 身 子 。
12:17		若 全 身 是 眼 、 從 那 裡 聽 聲 呢 ． 若 全 身 是 耳 、 從 那 裡 聞 味 呢 。
12:18		但 如 今 　 神 隨 自 己 的 意 思 、 把 肢 體 俱 各 安 排 在 身 上 了 。
12:19		若 都 是 一 個 肢 體 、 身 子 在 哪 裡 呢 。
12:20		但 如 今 肢 體 是 多 的 、 身 子 卻 是 一 個 。
12:21		眼 不 能 對 手 說 、 我 用 不 著 你 ． 頭 也 不 能 對 腳 說 、 我 用 不 著 你 。
12:22		不 但 如 此 、 身 上 肢 體 人 以 為 軟 弱 的 、 更 是 不 可 少 的 ．
12:23		身 上 肢 體 、 我 們 看 為 不 體 面 的 、 越 發 給 他 加 上 體 面 ． 不 俊 美 的 、 越 發 得 著 俊 美 ．
12:24		我 們 俊 美 的 肢 體 、 自 然 用 不 著 裝 飾 ． 但 　 神 配 搭 這 身 子 、 把 加 倍 的 體 面 給 那 有 缺 欠 的 肢 體 ．
12:25		免 得 身 上 分 門 別 類 ． 總 要 肢 體 彼 此 相 顧 。
12:26		若 一 個 肢 體 受 苦 、 所 有 的 肢 體 就 一 同 受 苦 ． 若 一 個 肢 體 得 榮 耀 、 所 有 的 肢 體 就 一 同 快 樂 。

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 stop being 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 stop being 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.

   ²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

The Spirit manifests Himself in believers in order to distribute various gifts to them for the common good of the community. The building up of this community is not only a functional aspect but more importantly is the building up of loving bonding relationship. Every member of the Christ's body is indispensable. Even the weaker part has its special position in the body. Paul exhorts believers to give special honor to those less honorable, and to give special modesty to those less presentable that members are caring for each other. Paul stresses more on this kind of loving relationship as the Spirit is manifested in a church that exhibits suffering together and rejoicing together in all kinds of circumstances.

My Spirit, as I learn experiencing your presence in my life this year. Thanks for reminding me that you are the Spirit of Love as well. Your Power and Presence is not only manifested in miracles, signs, healing of illness, supernatural things, etc, but may be more revealed in the loving relationship of a community which goes through suffering, celebration, sharing of possessions, and even conflicts in ministry life.