Weekly Update | September 9th, 2020
In Chapter 12 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church, he talks about spiritual gifts and how we should use them for the building up of the body of Christ (:7). Paul also describes how the Holy Spirit, the bestower of these gifts, unites the Church, who function like a human body. Each believer is a part of the body and has something unique and important to offer the other believers in the church body. This teaching applies to each local church, but I think it also applies to the Universal Church (all born-again believers everywhere on the planet).
Later in the chapter, Paul writes something important that I think we should remember. He writes, “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it,” (1 Corinthians 12:26). This text teaches us two important things that are especially important during this season of ministry. This week, I discuss suffering. Next week, I will discuss rejoicing.
First, we should suffer with our brothers and sisters in Christ when they are suffering. Let me explain. Have you ever slammed your finger in a car door? It hurts! Sometimes the pain from that is so intense that it makes a person’s eyes water, ears ring, or they even cry out in pain. That happens because when a part of our body is in pain, the rest of the body reacts to that pain. Many of these reactions happen instinctively. Likewise, when a believer in our church or even in another part of the world suffers, we should suffer with them. How do we join others in their suffering?
We should pray for them and look for ways to meet their needs. Ephesians 6:18 says, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” God responds to the prayers of His people (Jm 5:16). When His people suffer, we should pray for them to God! We should also join in their suffering by meeting needs (Gal 6:10). Sometimes, providing for someone during a time of suffering is one of the biggest ways we may minister to them. Take them a meal, send them some money, or cut their grass. I believe that our church does this well for others. But I want to challenge our body to do it well for our suffering brothers and sisters around the world.
On Sunday evening, I referred to a wonderful book titled, God’s Smuggler, which is a book about a missionary (Brother Andrew) who smuggled Bibles into Eastern European countries when Communism reigned in the region. I noticed two trends in this book and the book titled The Insanity of God, by Nik Ripkin. First, believers who endure harsh persecution and suffering are encouraged by the thought that other believers are praying for them and are prepared to meet their needs. Second, they consider it an honor and a biblical duty to pray and provide for others who are persecuted and suffering.
When one member of our body suffers, we all suffer. Let us embrace our fellowship of suffering and be instruments of God’s grace in the midst of suffering. We are one body. United by the Holy Spirit. Prepared for a glorious eternity with Jesus!
In His Service,
