OBC LADIES 4-16-08 Every Part Does Its Share

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Ladies Daily Devotional

4-16-08

All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version unless stated.

OBC LADIES 4-16-08 Every Part Does Its Share

By Dena Ivie

"From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:16)

If a part of our physical body is missing, there is a function not being met. True, sometimes another component can fulfill the role, but perhaps not in the easiest manner. Those in the church are the body of Christ. "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually" (1 Corinthians 12:27). There is a function, a work, for each member of this spiritual body. "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another" (Romans 12:4-5).

If any brother or sister in the body of Christ is not fulfilling his / her role, another in the body must accomplish that particular task. What happens if several members of the body are not doing their share? Perhaps we then see the opposite of the theme verse (Ephesians 4:16). There would be little or no growth of the body. How does that make Christ feel?

Just as no part of the physical body is more important than another part, no member of the spiritual body is more important than another. "If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,' is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,' is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed, there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'; nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary" (1 Corinthians 12:15-22). All members of the body are important to God and should be important to one another. It truly takes each one doing their share necessary for the working of the body of Christ.

As we in the body of Christ are each doing our share, we must not measure our abilities, our functions, by one another. "For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12) We measure ourselves by the word of God, determining whether or not we are obeying the commands of God.

"We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth" (3 John 8)

Are you doing your share as a fellow worker for the truth?

QUESTIONS

1. Colossians 1:18, "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." What is the body and who is the head of this body?

2. Read Ephesians 4:16. What results when every part of the body of Christ does his / her share?

3. Study 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Explain what this teaches about each member of the body.

4. John 4:36, "And he who ______ receives wages, and ___________ fruit for ___________ life, that ______ he who ______ and he who ______ may ____________ together."

5. 1 Corinthians 3:7-8, "So then _________ he who _______ is anything, nor he who ________, but _____ who gives the ___________. Now he who plants and he who waters are ______, and _____ one will receive his own reward ____________ to his own ________."

6. 1 Corinthians 3:9, "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building." How does this verse describe Christians?

7. What does God promise we will have in 2 Corinthians 9:8?

8. 1 Corinthians 15:58 promises our labor will not be in vain in the Lord so we should be _______, __________, ______ _________ ___ ____ ______ __ ___ _______.

9. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for _______, ___ _____, _____ ________, _____ ______ ___ ____________: that the man of God may be ________, ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ ____. "

10. 3 John 8 commands us to become fellow workers for _____ ________.

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Today's devotional article will also be posted with the Archived OBC Courses on our Home Page. If you are looking for some good Bible class material take a look at this page on our web site. We also have archived OBC Youth Lessons. We always enjoy getting feedback from those who use any of our archived materials.

OBC Ladies Daily Devotional is a part of the Online Bible Class sponsored by the St. George Church of Christ in St. George, Utah. Visit our Web Site and see all our Bible study opportunities which we invite you to be a part of and to enroll your friends! OBC Ladies Daily Devotional Archives Link:

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http://www.stgcoc.com/for_women%20Main1.htm

If you have questions or comments etc..., please feel free to contact: Billie Duty ladiesdevo@hotmail.com or Sandy Ditoro sjditoro@hotmail.com sjditoro@gmail.com .

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