Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
March 27, 2023
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
12 Christ is just like the human body—a body is a unit and has many parts; and all the parts of the body are one body, even though there are many. 13 We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jew or Greek, or slave or free, and we all were given one Spirit to drink. 14 Certainly the body isn’t one part but many. 15 If the foot says, “I’m not part of the body because I’m not a hand,” does that mean it’s not part of the body? 16 If the ear says, “I’m not part of the body because I’m not an eye,” does that mean it’s not part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, what would happen to the hearing? And if the whole body were an ear, what would happen to the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God has placed each one of the parts in the body just like he wanted. 19 If all were one and the same body part, what would happen to the body? 20 But as it is, there are many parts but one body. 21 So the eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” or in turn, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 Instead, the parts of the body that people think are the weakest are the most necessary. 23 The parts of the body that we think are less honorable are the ones we honor the most. The private parts of our body that aren’t presentable are the ones that are given the most dignity. 24 The parts of our body that are presentable don’t need this. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the part with less honor 25 so that there won’t be division in the body and so the parts might have mutual concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part gets the glory, all the parts celebrate with it.
Good Morning, There’s Power in the Blood
I enjoy watching college basketball, but it is especially exciting as the season reaches its end with the National Championship. Sadly, my favorite teams are no longer part of the festivities. When you no longer have “a dog in the fight,” you are free to watch the games and enjoy them for the purity of the game. I see young athletes working as a team with the goal of playing as one to win the prize. It seems that at some point, the star or leader upon whom everyone relies has to leave the game for some reason, and an unexpected person immerges to win the game. Teams that seem to be finished come rushing back to win the game.
How many times has a bench player come in and scored the winning basket? It’s the stuff movies of which movies are made, and songs are written. I heard one coach describe a player's game-winning basket with the words “one shining moment” (a tip of his hat to the March Madness theme song) during his post-game interview.
At this point, I could remind you of the over-used adage, “There’s no “i” in team.” Whether we are talking basketball or working as the body of Christ, it takes all working together to make it work. There is no unimportant part or person because each of us has unique gifts and blessings to share. Yesterday, the Rose Park family returned to worship in our newly repurposed Little Rose Park Chapel, where we will worship until the sanctuary has been renovated.
Believe me when I say that the work to reach this point was a team effort. Not one of us who accepted the task of moving forward with this plan could have accomplished it on our own. Unexpected contributions blessed us along the way as the winning baskets were scored. I am amazed as I see examples when all of God’s children come together and provide what they have to offer. Through God, nothing is impossible. Yesterday was “one shining moment” in the life of our Rose Park family and within the body of Christ as one. We are a resurrection people. Hallelujah! Thine the Glory! Hallelujah! Amen!
Blessed God, We thank you for Your blessings. We thank you with grateful hearts. You place within us the heart of champions so we can answer your call when our moment comes. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Each day, we are blessed by many people we will never know.
Rejoice on this beautiful day! Pastor Liz
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