一个身体，多个肢体
「你们就是基督的身子，并且各自作肢体。」 林前12:27
人的身体真是奇妙，每一肢体都要互相倚靠。
我们都体会过，好像牙痛那么小的事，也可以影响身体的其它肢体。
即使每一个肢体各有其重要职责，但没有一个肢体是独立的。
所有肢体必须携手合作，才能令整个身体有效地运作。
故此，保罗常常把教会形容为基督的身体，便不足为怪了。
跟随耶稣的人与基督身体中的每一个人，都互为关系，
虽然每一位信徒都是独特的、但却是互相倚靠的。
教会的成员有如互为关系的肢体，必须本着合一的目标共同努力，
传扬神的 国来临的好信息。
有时，教会成员难以成为身体的一部分，因为拒绝倚靠人，
或让别人倚靠自己，总是我们的本性。
然而保罗表明， 正如「眼不能对手说：『我用不着你』」，
在基督的身体里，也没有人可以对教会的成员这样说。
神赐给每一位教会成员不同的恩赐和才干，好能建立基督的身体。
教会及其中的成员，在基督里是一体的。
作为教会的成员，我们是蒙召去事奉基督，彼此服事，以及服侍世人。
祷告
主耶稣，祢的身体 —— 教会，是祢奇妙的作为。我们赞美祢，
因祢使我们每一个人都成为祢身体的肢体。但愿我们成为教会和世人的祝福。阿们。
ONE BODY, MANY PARTS
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27
The human body is amazing. Each part depends on the other parts.
We have all experienced how something as simple as a toothache can affect other parts of the body.
While every part has an important role to play, no part is independent.
All parts must work together so that the body can function well as a whole.
So it is no surprise that Paul often describes the church as Christ’s body.
Followers of Jesus are interrelated with every other person in the body of Christ.
Though each believer may be unique, each believer is also dependent on the rest.
Like interrelated body parts, church members must work together in unity and
oneness of purpose to help bring about the coming of God’s kingdom.
Sometimes members of the church have a hard time becoming part of the body.
By nature we resist being dependent on others or having others depend on us.
But Paul states clearly that just as “the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’”
neither can anyone in the body of Christ say that to a fellow church member.
God has equipped each individual member with gifts and talents for the building up of the body.
The church and its members are one in Christ.
As members of the church, we are called to serve Christ, each other, and the world around us.
PRAYER
Jesus, your body, the church, is wonderfully made. We praise you for making each one of us a part of your body.
May we be a blessing to your church and to your world. Amen.
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