Maybe Paul never looked into a mirror that wasn’t dim
because while the nose might be necessary more often than not the eyes think it
is too big. Truth is most people can find fault with one body part or another
and wish the weaker parts could be dispensed of more easily. And on the flip
side thinking of oneself as Adonis means Narcissus is not far behind. It may be
that judging oneself either too harshly or inaccurately is where the mistreatment
of the body begins and why these words of Paul have too often fallen on deaf
ears. When we cannot recognize our own worth we are blind to the worth of
others. But if I see myself through the eyes of Christ as worthy of God’s
affection and choose to live into that identity then I believe it becomes more
difficult to deny others the same honor. And so each member values the other
because each member is valued by Christ. And to dishonor the other, to think or
speak ill of them, to plot and plan and even pray for their downfall, is to
scorn Christ himself. In the end it is God who is grieved and injured when the
body behaves badly towards itself. But it was the grief of God over a creation
gone horribly wrong that led Christ to the cross. In the love that is the “still
more excellent way” his body was broken to make ours whole so that the death of
Christ would be our life. So treat yourself well today for your body belongs to
Christ. And remember that the body part that had the nerve to sit in your space
last Sunday is dear to the heart of Christ as well.
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