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Intention

To know that we are all indispensable parts of the body of Christ, and to use our gifts in service of one another and of Christ.

Scripture

“But God has put the body together, giving greater honour 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 honoured, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

– 1 Corinthians 12:24–27

Reflection

Our triune God is a God of relationships. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are eternally bound together in mutual love. So, it is not surprising that when God saves us, he does not leave us as isolated individuals, but gathers us into a community of faith.

The Apostle Paul uses the image of a body to describe the church — the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12:27 he writes, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

We all have our part to play, and no one is greater than another in Christ’s body. Yet two errors are to be avoided: assumptions of inferiority and superiority.

Paul speaks of the first error of inferiority in 1 Corinthians 12:16: “The ear cannot say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body.’”

One can only imagine the number of times the ear hears people say: “Oh! What beautiful eyes!” They long for someone to say: “Oh! What beautiful ears!” Yet the apostle declares that the ear would not for that reason stop being part of the body (1 Corinthians 12:16).

Our body needs ears as well as eyes. Each has its part to play. So, we must avoid the peril of inferiority, as if our gifts were not as important, simply because they are not noticed as much as others.

The second danger is the false assumption of superiority. “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!’” (1 Corinthians 12:21). “On the contrary,” says Paul, “those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1 Corinthians 12:22).

God has so ordered the body of Christ that each member has a part to play, for the efficient functioning of the body. We need each other, because we belong to each other and because we belong to Christ.

Hence the apostle concludes, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). As members of a united body, we display the riches of him who brought us out of darkness into his glorious light (1 Peter 2:9).

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Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for making us members of your body. Help us to value one another, to use our gifts humbly, and to serve one another faithfully. Keep us from pride and discouragement, and enable us to shine like stars in the universe, holding forth the word of truth. Amen.

Author Bio

Bishop Glenn Davies has served as the bishop of the Diocese of the Southern Cross since August 2022. Ordained in 1981 in the Anglican Church of Australia, he served as a Bible college lecturer and the Bishop of North Sydney before becoming the Archbishop of Sydney in 2013 until 2021.

Prayer Points for October 2026

We are praying for the Church to:

1. Awaken to her first love for Jesus (Ephesians 5:14; Revelation 2:4).
2. Awaken to evangelism so that millions will trust in Christ (John 3:16; Proverbs 11:30).
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