Date: 02-04-15
Text: — 1 Corinthians 12:27 — 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. [NIV84]
The Big Idea: Join me in eliminating the “Shout Down” method.
Being a former loner, I understand what some are feeling. The irony was, I myself am a team player, and yet I often felt that no wanted to play with me. Many of these feelings were self imposed downers, but the truth was I was the kid that was ditched quite frequently. But I continued to play—anyway….
In truth, deep down I always believed that each of us has a role to play, especially in the Body of Christ. This is the greatest team to ever be on. The Coach doesn’t play favorites, and doesn’t pull you out after making a mistake. You can play your best, and He is pleased with it. When you do flub up, depending on the severity of the ‘foul’, He takes you aside and explains the ‘Game’ a little better. And when He ‘benches’ you, it is for a good reason. One dear mentor told me and another friend that maybe the Coach has ‘benched’ us in order to keep us fresh for the fourth quarter….
Lifestyle worshipers, when you feel like you are not part of a team or are playing in a game that requires no teammates, remember that the Body of Christ has many positions, and He definitely has one with your name on it. So: play your best! Your thoughts.
Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 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. 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. 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? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
— Corinthians 12:14-26 (NIV84)
Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me for feeling like I am not part of Your Team. Open my eyes to the position You have placed me in and empower me to faithful play my best! In Your Name, Amen.
Pastor Mike