Serving the brothers in the Faith
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Our goodness, the reflection of Jesus Christ through our actions, has the ability to trigger a reaction in others and draw them closer to Christ.
Furthermore, the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' is it not therefore part of the body? 16 Or if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' is it not therefore part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He intended. 19 For if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, yet one body. 21 Neither can the eye say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor can the head say to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' 22 But the parts of the body that seem weaker are more necessary. 23 And those parts of the body that we think are less honorable, on these we clothe more honorably, and those parts of us that are less honorable are treated with more honor. 24 For those in us that are more honorable do not need. But God has composed the body, giving more abundant honor to the part that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 Therefore, if one part suffers, all the members suffer with it; and if one part is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:14-26
When we talk about service, meaning giving of ourselves, giving of our gifts and talents, what do we imagine? In many cases, some only think about what they can see serving, such as choir singers, Bible study teachers, or children's school teachers. The truth is that there are countless ways to serve the Body of Christ with our gifts and talents.
Many seem to believe that church is just a place for the weekend, but church isn't a place, nor is it a dedicated time; the church is the body made up of each believer, each with the abilities or powers from God to guide, help, and support the other members. In fact, service doesn't only have a place within the church; it also has service in the rest of the world.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Most believers are not qualified or in a position to influence large crowds, but we must keep in mind that when we speak or act, those around us, who are closest to us, notice it. But here the chain reaction applies, where impacting one person can impact others, creating an endless chain. Paul refers to this when he talks about how each member of the body, with a small action, can infect the rest of the body. For example, a toe can keep the entire body stable. Just as a listening ear, a loving rebuke, or a loving action can all positively impact the rest of the body, that is, the church.
15 If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' is it not therefore part of the body? 16 Or if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' is it not therefore part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If all were hearing, where would be the smell? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he intended. 19 For if all were one member, where would be the body? 20 But now there are many members, yet one body. 21 Neither can the eye say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.'
1 Corinthians 12:15-21