Re:Verse passage – 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (day three)
“If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.”
In the local fellowship, what happens when grief or hardship or loss descends on the life of a person in that fellowship? In a physical body, injury means that a person will limp in order to spare a wounded foot further pain. There is no shame in a limp; a limp isn’t a defect, but rather a tender response to trauma. The human body will not attempt full range of movement and pretend there is no agony. In the church body, a limp will take various forms. But when a church insists on pretending it doesn’t need to limp, it denies the pain of those in its midst. On the other hand, a church that exists as a wounded body in this world is living in beautiful imitation of its Lord.
Bryan, I once read an article about grieving, entitled, “Moving Forward, with a Limp.” Your devotional thoughts mirror those in the article very well. Being part of the church should allow for, assist in, and celebrate our healing. Thanks!