“And if any member suffers, all the members suffer with it,” 1 Corinthians 12:26a. I never realized how true this was until I hurt my thumb. Do you know how hard it is to put on clothes, socks, and shoes without using your thumb? The rest of the hand had to take over the function of the thumb. It was hard and awkward. My whole body felt it when I forgot and tried to use the thumb.
Paul is talking about each one of us who makes up the Body of Christ. He is talking about the gifts God has given to each one of us. We are all important and needed. When one of us is suffering (emotionally, physically, or spiritually), and we cannot carry out our gift, someone needs to take over for us. More than likely, they will not have the same gift as the suffering person. So, they will probably have trouble doing it, feeling very awkward. But God gives grace.
I needed to buy a special glove for my hand, with extra support for my thumb. We need to come alongside the suffering person and support them through it. We need to make sure that they know they are important in God’s eyes and in ours. This is how the body functions. Are you hurting? Seek support. Do you know someone who is hurting? Come alongside of them and support them.
Written by Denise Zambrano: Denise loves to teach the Bible and sing. She teaches a women’s Bible study and a high school Sunday School class. Along with her daughter, Linda, she is an advocate at A Baby’s Breath (a crisis pregnancy center). She loves being a grandmother to Tim, Becky, Alexander, and William (who is with Jesus). She was a missionary with Radio Station HCJB in Quito, Ecuador for 35 years.
Think About This: “Since God writes your story, he knows what you’re facing and exactly what grace you’ll need to live his way.”―
The Daily Bible Reading: James 1 | You can download our 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
