1 Corinthians 12 - 10.8.26
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 NIV
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being 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 stop being 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 placed 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. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-26 NIV
Observation:
This is one of my most favorite pieces of scripture, alongside Hebrews 3:13 this scripture lays out our responsibility and our calling as we serve in our daily roles as members of the body of Christ. We are to confidently own and see Gods heart in what we bring to the table and also see the essentiality of what those in the body of Christ bring to the table as well. Do you see that what you bring is part of the design God has for His movement on earth? I feel this burden as writing this SOAP that someone needs to see deeper how great and unique and awesome their perspective and passions and contribution is to the body of Christ. We cannot be passive with our God given passions, but we must be invested and bought into the mission God had designed to come down into earth through our ownership of stewarding them for His glory and purposes.
Application:
1. Encourage someone this morning or whenever you are reading this in what they bring to the body of Christ. Hebrews 3:13 reminds us that encouragement makes us available to see and experience the Holy Spirit, so what if your encouragement towards someone could be their reminder that they need to own their giftings and passions for a greater purpose than themselves? Sit with the Lord and ask Him WHO needs to be reminded how awesome of a foot or a hand they are and how amazing it is God designed them to bring that into His mission.
2. Write down where your heart comes alive as you love His body and serve His church, identify your gifting and passions and devote them to be a sacrifice unto the Lord’s overall mission for the entire body of Christ. What will our church look like when we see that we need to be all in and when we remind one another of this!!!! Let it be so!
Prayer:
Lord, I receive the love you have for what you have designed for me to contribute to the mission you have designed for the body of Christ. Help me to see who to encourage and receive more passion for the spaces you’ve DESIGNED me to bring your imprint into. Amen.
- Tess Schrupp
Psalm 27 - 10.7.26
Scripture: Psalm 27:13-14
“I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.”
Observation
Over and over in the Psalms, we see David wrestle with his faith. But over and over his faith is strengthened by focusing on God’s goodness, strength, and great love.
Application
When we have relationship with Jesus, we can look forward to an eternity spent with him. But like David, I am confident that I will also see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. We are surrounded by God’s goodness in good times, and we are still surrounded by God’s goodness in hard times.
In the good times, it is easy to become complacent and forget that all we have is due to God’s goodness. And in the hard times, it is so easy to focus on our circumstances and forget about God’s goodness.
Do we truly believe that God is good all the time?
Jesus modeled focusing our minds and hearts on God first in the Lord’s Prayer. It starts with adoration and honor – to focus on who He is – and then on submitting to Him, putting our trust in Him.
“To "wait for the Lord" is not passive inactivity; it is an active, eager posture of trust in God’s ultimate control and faithfulness.” Got Questions.org
Prayer
God, your goodness is everywhere, all the time, if only I will choose to see it. Forgive me for the times I become complacent and don’t give you the honor you are due. And when the hard times come, help me to put my trust in you, to submit to your will, and to remember that your goodness prevails, regardless of my circumstances. Thank you for your love and faithfulness. Thank you that you are good all the time! Amen
- Debbie Dunn
Psalm 26 - 10.6.26
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 26:1 - 12
Vindicate me, Lord,
for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the Lord
and have not faltered.
Test me, Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;
for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
I do not sit with the deceitful,
nor do I associate with hypocrites.
I abhor the assembly of evildoers
and refuse to sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence,
and go about your altar, Lord,
proclaiming aloud your praise
and telling of all your wonderful deeds.
Lord, I love the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells.
Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with those who are bloodthirsty,
in whose hands are wicked schemes,
whose right hands are full of bribes.
I lead a blameless life;
deliver me and be merciful to me.
My feet stand on level ground;
in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.
OBSERVATION
In this passage, we see David having a heart-to-heart with God. As David is facing his enemies, he is asking God to examine him by his deeds and to search him for any wrong doing. David is also having a moment of self reflection not only from his deeds but his love and adoration for God. Many scholars believe that this psalm was written before the incident with Bathsheba and Uriah since David is declaring his innocence and blameless life. Lastly, David praises God and understands that God is his Deliverer and the One who can bring him mercy from the threats of his enemies.
APPLICATION
It Is important that we as believers should have moments of self reflection on a regular basis while we are praying and talking to God. Although good behavior does not guarantee good times, I believe that God wants us to come to Him for our concerns and issues. In 1 Peter 5:7 it says to “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” We can come to Christ with our trials and completely give it to Him. We can also praise Him in the midst of our trials such as David did.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Deliverer. I ask You to examine my heart and reveal where I have fallen short and where I am weak. I know that the enemy is relentless with his attacks. I pray that I can discern if I am facing an attack from the enemy or pruning from You. As You said in John 10:10 that the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I know that You can use those moments to build us up in faith as mentioned in James 1:2-4. Help me to remember to come to You in every situation whether it be for the good times and bad, and help me to praise You in every situation whether it be during the good times and bad times such as David. Amen
- Darrence Hamilon