No division, no gap, no split! That’s God’s desire for His body. He has “tempered” together the body of Christ, with its many and varied members, in such a way that they should have the same care for one another. The members are to suffer when one suffers and rejoice when the other is honored (1 Corinthians 12: 24-26).  This can only happen when we receive and live in the grace that God has given each of us in our giftings and operations as Romans 12 tells us.

So why do we see the schisms? For surely each one of us can testify to them, even when they came from our own minds and hearts. I believe Paul tells us the reason for the schisms in verses 15-20 of 1 Corinthians 12.

“If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?” Think a moment what is being said here. What  fleshly attitudes do we see in this statement? Self-pity? Jealousy and envy? Competition? Discontent? Search your heart. Have you seen these in yourself?

Just as the human body has particular members for particular purposes and each is so necessary, so too the Body of Christ. Your hand could never take the place of your ears, or your feet could never take the place of your eyes. They have such different purposes. Neither one can accomplish the task of the other. Why would they seek to unless there was jealousy and envy, or discontentment. How ridiculous it sounds to think the ears would be jealous of the hand! Yet we see this in the Body of Christ. We are not trusting in the Lord to use us where He has placed us or worse, we think He has made a mistake in where He has place us.

“And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” How about the attitudes here? Self-importance, pride, willful independence? If you think that you are the part that’s necessary and others aren’t, perhaps you are actually that more feeble part that God has honored. Please don’t miss this sobering thought. The Word tells us that God gives the feeble members honor so all will be necessary.

Is that why you are honored in your role in the body? Are you actually the most feeble without the Lord’s work?

Your struggle may be to know your part in the body. You may feel that if you understood better where you belonged in the body you could function there properly. My dear friends, REST!

The Word tells us He has placed us in the body as it has pleased Him. It also tells us He has given us grace. Rest in the power of the Holy Spirit to lead you, make you and live through you.

Your endeavor is not to know your task. The hand knows its task, not because it seeks to discern its place, but because it’s connected to the body to give it ability and strength and it’s connected to the head from which all instructions flow.

Seek the Head not your place. Jesus is our focus. The Holy Spirit is our power. Grace works in us. So guard against the schisms that find their roots in your own heart. Love the Lord, follow as He leads, and follow the more excellent way – Love and Spiritual Gifts, the next chapter!