July 22 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Speaking of a new style of living (vv. 1-2) leads to a discussion of life within the church (vv. 3-13).

We do not develop a new lifestyle all by ourselves. We learn to live a new life within the new community God created in Christ Jesus—the church of Christ. Here the Spirit gives gifts to each person, so that everyone may contribute to the growth of all.

Today many Christians seem to combine a zeal for Christ with a disregard for the church. According to Paul's gospel, this is a contradictory attitude. We are saved and renewed only when we are embodied in Christ. And this body of Christians must accept, help, esteem, and love each other because they are one in Christ. Just as the members of the human body cannot live apart from the body to which they belong, so Christians cannot live the new life apart from the new community.

The New Testament does not view Christians as separate individuals who come together to form a body, a unit. The New Testament teaching starts with the unity of those who are in Christ. Individuals are never more or less than "members." And each believer must have a sober estimate of his or her function within this body.

The gripes and griefs we may have about the church are no excuse for separation. Often they are indications of our own shortcomings and reasons for more and better service "according to the grace given to each of us" (v. 6).

In our individualistic age, all Christians need the reminder that the new life in the fellowship of the church is just as much a part of the New Testament gospel as the teaching concerning the new life itself.

God knows the weaknesses of our fellow church members as well as we know them, and God knows our faults better than we do. All of us must pray that we will receive more of God so that we have more to give to others—for the health and growth of the community that lives for the age to come.

REFLECTIONS

What does being part of the community of believers mean to you? Consider praying as suggested in the last sentence of the reading.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.