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For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n We are to function in the body of Christ as He chooses.<\/p>\n Paul once again starts off the verse with \u201cFor<\/span>\u201d indicating that this and the following verse are closely linked to the previous verse.<\/p>\n The Greek word translated \u201cas<\/span>\u201d is kathaper<\/em><\/span>, which is an adverb made up of katha<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cas\u201d and per<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cvery\u201d or \u201cvery much.\u201d Though this translates rather awkwardly into English as \u201cvery much as,\u201d the notion in Greek is that there is about to be a comparison of two things that are very much like each other. He describes the first of these two things in this verse and the second one in the next verse.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cmembers<\/span>\u201d is the Greek word melos<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201ca limb or other body part.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul has just told us not to \u201cover think\u201d ourselves. That is, we are not to think of ourselves as more important or more elevated than we really are. After all, we are only what we are because God has made us thus. He now goes on to show us that our importance, yea our very identity, exists in relation to the body of Christ, the church. Paul uses the metaphor of a physical body to show this.<\/p>\n He tells us, \u201cwe have many members in one body.<\/span>\u201d In other words, there are many different body parts in the body of Christ. In the second part of this verse Paul states that all these body parts don\u2019t have the same function. Each part is important to the health of the entire body in a different way.<\/p>\n Each one of us has a body that is made up of a whole bunch of parts; arms, legs, head, spine, eyes, skin, liver, mouth, heart, sweat glands, nasal mucous, finger nails, etc. Some of these are more attractive than others and some are more obvious than others. Some we don\u2019t even notice until they go into hyperactive mode, and then we tend to dislike them because they produce unpleasant sensations. But – they are ALL very necessary and we would be handicapped without any one of them. The same is true of the body of Christ.<\/p>\n This is the crux of what Paul is going to be talking about in the next 12 verses. We each have a place in the body of Christ and God has individually gifted each one of us for our unique function with spiritual gifts. But before we get wrapped up in the discussions about spiritual gifts, let\u2019s remember how Paul started this out.<\/p>\n I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,<\/span> which is<\/em><\/span> your reasonable service.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n There is no use in continuing the discussion about spiritual gifts if we are not first, totally submitted to our Lord Jesus Christ and totally committed to serving Him in the position and capacity that He has chosen for us! If we have offered ourselves as living sacrifices then we no longer have a say in how God chooses to use us.<\/p>\n Have you offered yourself up to God to be used in whatever manner He determines? Are you a living sacrifice, or are you still in control of your own life?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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