No Schisms In The Body

BYTES~  No Schisms In The Body 

And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honour; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the Body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. I Corinthians 12:23-25

The Body Paul is referring to in this passage of Scripture is The Body of Christ, the Church; those who call themselves Christian. The Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, wanted to create an awareness in the members of Christ's Body that they were not their own, that they were bought with a costly price, the life and Blood of Jesus, therefore members should not despise each other, gossip about each other, or believe that they were superior to another. 

In Christ, we who believe are all One Body. Now, there may be days you do not like the other members of His Body, but your feelings towards another Christian does not make them less of a member, nor does Jesus agree with your assessment that they deserve to be hated or cut off.

If Holy Spirit has to tell the Church that it belongs to One Man's Body, Christ's, then He knew there would be division amongst its members and mostly due to pride. The Spirit speaks of the more prominent parts despising those who are not like them, who do not have what they have, who are not as popular as they are. If you find pride in your heart, if you and your Christian friends mostly laugh at, mock or gossip about others behind their backs, you need to take that to Jesus. 

Jesus does not hate any member of His Body. He does not reject nor does He compare any of the members of His Body to another. Jesus loves all who belong to Him irrespective of their outward appearance or status in life.

Jesus tells us to love one another as He has loved us for the very reason that we find it difficult to love others as much as we love ourselves! We need to give earnest heed to these three facts: 

1. The Body and its members belong to Christ, not to you.

2. God chooses and places the members as He pleases. He does not need your input as to who has the right to be called Christian, and who does not. 

3. He sees the hearts and judges according to His perfect standard.

Our part, as Beloved members of His Body, is:

1. To love even if we do not like the person’s mannerisms or conversation.

2. We are called to reconcile people to God, not to play judge over all, nor to cause schisms by having holy cliques that reject those not like us.

3. We are called to exhort, build and lift each other up, not destroy, break down or despise the other members of the Body. 

If our love for Jesus is greater than our love and desire for prestige, popularity, recognition and love of self, then we will be able to love the other members of our Heavenly Family as God has called us to.

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.~ Jesus our Lord.  John 15:12 

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. I John 4:11-12

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. I John 4:20-21

Prayer: God, we find it difficult to love one another. I see now that if I do not love the family of God as You love me then I am as those creating a schism, a painful division caused by differences in opinion or belief, in the Body. You see Your Body as one In Christ. Teach me to love others just as you love me. I know it won't be easy, but with Your help and by the leading of Your Holy Spirit there need be No Schisms among us. 

But love is more than the crowd agreeing with one person's opinion on any topic. Genuine love from God working through me means I am okay if everyone does not agree with, or adhere to, my brilliant ideas and opinions. Help us as your Body to learn what it truly means to 'get along,' to have true unity under the leadership of Your Spirit, and not under the dictates of a few men and women. Thank You, Jesus, for guiding us through this maze called love to the foot of the Cross where victory and unity can be found.

Meaghan Spies © 2022