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I Corinthians 12:12-27; Romans 12:9, 10, 14-16; 8:28-39; 7:15-25; 8:1; Proverbs 24:16; Psalm 37:23, 24; 103:8-14; I John 1:6-2:2; Luke 18:9-14; John 8:1-11; Luke 15:1-32

We need each other in the family of God. Many times, as the children of God, different individuals at different times come to the forefront and do things that are beneficial for the Body of Christ. Many times those things are acknowledged yet at other times people do things that are needful that are not very public. All of God’s people make up the Body of Christ and all are members in particular. Using an athletic analogy, in many respects the body is like a team. Each individual is responsible for different positions for the team to perform at its optimum and come to victory. Sometimes certain individuals operate at a more optimum level and perhaps get more recognition. At those times others may get jealous. The person who is jealous would certainly be better off concentrating on his own performance and improving his own ability to contribute to the overall good of the team. On the other hand, when a person is "off his game," the other team members should encourage them and help during the time of rehabilitation to enable the person to get back performing for the team.

Regardless of where we are from or what our backgrounds, God has put us on a "level playing field" with that one and self-same spirit. God, in His foreknowledge, knew exactly what spot each would be able to fill as no other could. Acknowledging each of us as valuable can give us a different mind-set, even for those who have yet to accept salvation. We must see people not where they are, but where they can be. In many ways, we are the great recruiters for God.

On God’s team, no one will be functioning at their best all the time. Yet to God each member is special. We should feel that way about each other. No set of circumstances can ever separate us from the love of God – not even our own sins. Paul was a wonderful man who did great things for God, but he was not perfect. In Romans 7, he speaks of the war in his members whereby he wanted to do the right things for God but knew that evil was present within him. Paul said he delighted in the law of God after the inward man or new nature but knew there was another law warring against that new nature.

When we realize what God has, does and will continue to forgive us for, we have no problem forgiving others. At times we may get haughty and high-minded, thinking evil of a believer who commits sins. With one-body thinking, we should not do that. Proverbs says a just man falls seven times and gets up. This exemplifies the frailty of man as well as his faithfulness. People will fall but God will not allow them to be utterly cast down. In our minds, we have degrees of sin, but God does not. What sin could be so bad that the blood of Christ cannot cover it?

We all sin and should remind each other of God’s forgiveness. In Luke 15, there are several parables regarding forgiveness. God has great joy over one sinner who repents. We all have an advocate in Jesus Christ. When we have one-body thinking, we will not rejoice in iniquity, comparing ourselves to each other, but will encourage each other, remembering we all need each other.


#246 One Body Thinking -- September 9, 2001 ©2001 / Steven A. Michels 66:51 minutes
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"One Body Thinking"- Rev. Steve Michels I Corinthians 12:12-27; Romans 12:9, 10, 14-16; 8:28-39; 7:15-25; 8:1; Proverbs 24:16; Psalm 37:23, 24; 103:8-14; I John 1:6-2:2; Luke 18:9-14; John 8:1-11; Luke 15:1-32 We need each other in the family of God. Many times, as the children of God, different individuals at different times come to the forefront and do things that are beneficial for the Body of Christ. Many times those things are acknowledged yet at other times people do things that are needful that are not very public. All of God’s people make up the Body of Christ and all are members in particular. Using an athletic analogy, in many respects the body is like a team. Each individual is responsible for different positions for the team to perform at its optimum and come to victory. Sometimes certain individuals operate at a more optimum level and perhaps get more recognition. At those times others may get jealous. The person who is jealous would certainly be better off concentrating on his own performance and improving his own ability to contribute to the overall good of the team. On the other hand, when a person is "off his game," the other team members should encourage them and help during the time of rehabilitation to enable the person to get back performing for the team. Regardless of where we are from or what our backgrounds, God has put us on a "level playing field" with that one and self-same spirit. God, in His foreknowledge, knew exactly what spot each would be able to fill as no other could. Acknowledging each of us as valuable can give us a different mind-set, even for those who have yet to accept salvation. We must see people not where they are, but where they can be. In many ways, we are the great recruiters for God. On God’s team, no one will be functioning at their best all the time. Yet to God each member is special. We should feel that way about each other. No set of circumstances can ever separate us from the love of God – not even our own sins. Paul was a wonderful man who did great things for God, but he was not perfect. In Romans 7, he speaks of the war in his members whereby he wanted to do the right things for God but knew that evil was present within him. Paul said he delighted in the law of God after the inward man or new nature but knew there was another law warring against that new nature. When we realize what God has, does and will continue to forgive us for, we have no problem forgiving others. At times we may get haughty and high-minded, thinking evil of a believer who commits sins. With one-body thinking, we should not do that. Proverbs says a just man falls seven times and gets up. This exemplifies the frailty of man as well as his faithfulness. People will fall but God will not allow them to be utterly cast down. In our minds, we have degrees of sin, but God does not. What sin could be so bad that the blood of Christ cannot cover it? We all sin and should remind each other of God’s forgiveness. In Luke 15, there are several parables regarding forgiveness. God has great joy over one sinner who repents. We all have an advocate in Jesus Christ. When we have one-body thinking, we will not rejoice in iniquity, comparing ourselves to each other, but will encourage each other, remembering we all need each other.