1 Corinthians 12:24 tells us that "God has combined the members of the body and has given 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."
What makes this hard is that some people despise the body of Christ. They are believers, but "no one was there for them when they suffered." This may be the case, but it might've been self-inflicted. Like a wounded dog, some people lash out at others when they are hurt. Not everyone is equipped to deal with self-centeredness like that. They get insulted or lashed out at and they turn away. It's hard to minister to a porcupine. But thank God that some of us have people nearby that "know how to deal with us" and get close even when we're not so lovable. Holding past hurts against the body of Christ is a mistake, though. The fear of "getting hurt again" is real, though. Sometimes you just have to take a risk, forgive others, and step out in faith.
Others love the body of Christ and cling to it in gratitude, because they've seen or received healing from it. This is beautiful.
I like this verse, which talks about suffering with each other and rejoicing with each other. That's what family does.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at December 30, 2005 10:16 AM