"The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NLT)

The world has always lacked unity.

The Apostle Paul addressed the unity issue in nearly all of his letters.

The problem was that there were Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free people, and the mind-sets behind these divisions were deeply rooted with in the people.

All those groups and classes of people came together to church.

Free people looked down on slaves. Slaves didn't know how to live with freedom in Christ. And Jews and Gentiles had to come together from completely different worlds.

Paul gave them one message to help clear up all the confusion: You are one body.

It does not matter who you have been or how the world classifies you, when you believe in Jesus then you become part of His one body, unified and united with all other believers throughout the whole world.

We hear the same message today and it requires us to lay down all of our own agendas, our own preferences, our own way of thinking, so that we can serve and bless one another, helping one another become the part of the body that God created us to be.

This requires us to hone one another for who God made us all to be, allowing everyone to contribute what God has given them in a God-honoring way.

Like it or not, we are one body, and we need to start acting like it.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your Son and His sacrifice for me.

Because You have placed me uniquely within Your body, grant me the humility to lay down my rights. Empower me to serve my brothers and sisters, and use my life to build unity among Your people.

Amen.

— Dennis