Devotionals

One Body, Many Parts

by Anne Adams
06/03/25
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

Many Parts, One Body

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.  (I Cor. 12:12 NLT)

It was an ordinary call that I received in my job as a receptionist many years ago as the caller asked to speak to Bill, our head of building maintenance. However, because his job took him to many places, Bill was rarely in his office and in the days before cell phones, I usually had to take a message. The man gave me his name and number then had another request. “When you get Bill to call back tell him in Parts.”

As I hung up I had to smile. I knew of course the caller was from a car dealership and that he worked in the parts department. However, my wacky sense of humor had another meaning – that the guy’s body parts were separated and he’d better get himself together!

Silly of course, but that’s the image that Paul used in our passage when he said that just as the human body has many parts, so does the church as Body of Christ. And in a way with the church those parts are made up of the individual believers – each with their own gifts and graces and united to serve him..

However, sadly I occasionally find that I’m not the best “part” I should be and that I fall short of what he expects of me. It could be for many reasons - perhaps I’m not growing spiritually and by extension failing to serve him.

So like the caller I’m in “parts” and I need to get myself together – returning to where I should be. For his glory and my benefit.