~ Satisfied
With Status ~
Series
Note
~ A constant reality is that it takes effort to develop and maintain good
habits. Unfortunately; we effortlessly develop bad habits.
To
combat this fact of mankind’s fallen nature requires consistent effort. This is
why personal discipline is vitally important. Simply stated the bottom-line is
that to fulfill our responsibility to become increasingly Christ-like we must
exercise continual discipline.
Scripture ~ “For as
the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body,
being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and
have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one
member but many.
“If
the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it
therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye,
I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were
an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be
the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body
just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body
be?
“But
now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the
hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need
of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are
necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less
honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts
have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God
composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have
the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members
suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
“Now
you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed
these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after
that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of
tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers
of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all
interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more
excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:12-31).
Comments ~ 1) In the
next chapter (1 Corinthians 13) are listed the “more excellent way” which
consists of “faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is
love” (1 Corinthians 13:13b).
2)
State of Satisfaction also includes marriage or singleness. The Apostle
Paul could say, “I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has
his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that” (1 Corinthians
7:7). Paul felt in his ministry needs that he would be less encumbered in his
itinerant missionary style if he remained single.
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
*****
Bible
Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted. Emphasis is added.
* * *
December
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