The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:1-31, was instructing the Church at Corinth – using the physical body and its many members, yet is “one body” – to reveal that the Body of Christ, the Church, also had many members, yet was one Body:
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)
The requirement to be in the Body of Christ is explained in verse 13:
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Therefore, you must be baptized into His Body by the Spirit; you must be Regenerated by the Spirit. However, the Doctrine of Regeneration by the Spirit is not the primary focus of this devotion.
The focus is to:
- Show that the Body of Christ has many members, as does the human body.
- Show that it is God that has “set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (1 Corinthians 12:18).
- Show that all members are important, “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary” (1 Corinthians 12:22).
- Show that the body is one (all its members are one); with “no schism” (or division); the body needs each member (1 Corinthians 12:14-24, 25-26).
- Show the order that God set; the members have different positions and functions in the body (verses 28-31).
Therefore comes the title of this devotion “Where Do I Fit?” The act of asking this question indicates, not that God has made a mistake, but rather a lack of growth in your position in the Body of Christ.
It is not that each one Born of God, baptized into His Body by the Spirit, does not know what or who he is, such as an eye, hand, foot, etc.; or spiritually, as an apostle, prophet, teacher, worker of miracles, etc. (verses 28-31). (See Romans 12:3-8.) For when Christ comes to dwell in a person, that person has Spirit-illumination; he has the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:9-16). He has the ability to perceive, or discern, Spiritual things of God (2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:14-16).
The problem is not who you are in the Body of Christ. The problem is your surrender to God, your submission to His Will, to obey His Word, and to endure therein.
The truth of the matter may be that you don’t like your position. You may be a little toe, and you would rather be an eye, etc. This works out on the surface as pride and jealousy. But the root of the matter lies in your rebellion to God. The real truth is: “God, I don’t like how you made me. I don’t like where you placed me in Your Body.”
First, the problem is that “I” has not surrendered to the Sovereignty of God as Creator. “I” thinks he knows better than his Creator. But of course, “I” cannot see the plan from the beginning to the end. “I” cannot see the work God has purposed just for him. “I” cannot see the beauty of his position and the reward of his position in the Body of Christ.
Second, “I” has not submitted to God’s Will and Word. When “I” submits to God and His Will and His Word, then the motto will be, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” The word is meekness, not weakness. For meekness is the internal quality of the spirit that is complete submitted to God and His Will and His Word. “I submit my will, my goals, my thoughts, my ideas, etc. to You, my God, my Lord and Master.” In other words, “I give up my all; my body, soul, and spirit to You.” Submission to God is again a Sovereign Act of God in the person’s spirit:
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)
God, by His Power, brings about a “will change” in Regeneration. Before Regeneration, your “will” is to sin (Ephesians 2:2-3; 1 John 2:15-17); but after Regeneration, you have a “new will” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Your goals, your desires, and your actions change from pleasing the flesh to pleasing Christ, when you have been Regenerated by the Spirit (Colossians 3:1-3).
Paul describes this action as a resurrection (Romans 6:4; Ephesians 2:1); a setting free (Romans 8:2); the “old man” crucified and the “new man” installed (Ephesians 4:17-25, especially verses 20-25):
“But ye have not so learned Christ;” (Ephesians 4:20)
“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:” (Ephesians 4:21)
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” (Ephesians 4:22)
“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” (Ephesians 4:23)
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24)
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” (Ephesians 4:25)
John describes that when the Love of God is shed abroad in your heart, then your goal is not the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17); but it is to please God, and to walk as He walked (1 John 2:4-6; 3:11-24; 4:7-21).
When this happens, you are submitted to God, His Will, and His Word.
Third, when “I” surrenders to God and submits to God; then, and then only, is he ready to obey God. John wrote:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) (Or, since you love me, keep my commandments.)
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” (1 John 2:3)
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4)
“But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” (1 John 2:5)
Also see 1 John 3:14; 4:7-21; 5:3-4.
These verses, and many more, show that obedience, or keeping His Commandments, is proof of having the Love of God in you. Then you will obey Matthew 22:37-20; John 13:34-35. You will be a disciple, or a follower, of Jesus Christ (Luke 14:26-33).
Fourth, when “I” surrenders to God, submits to God, and obeys God; then “I” will “endure” in the Love of God. “I” will be stedfast and unmoveable (1 Corinthians 15:58). “I” will continually do Hebrews 12:1; Philippians 3:7-14; etc.
When rebellion is recognized and repented of, and there is a return to the first love, then the saint will be equipped to answer the question “Where do I fit?” He finds the answer to this question is not the answer. The answer lies in answering the questions, “How do I fit? How am I to carry out my position?”
The answer is surrender to God, submit to God, obey God, and endure in the same. Then you will walk in Love to God and thy neighbor.
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