I’ve endured a couple of whopper toothaches in my time. Few things grab your attention in such a vivid way. When a toothache erupts, the entire body suffers. I cannot retreat into a quiet corner of my big toe to escape the pain.

When the pain finally ebbs, my grimace melts into a smile and I relax. Like an evil sorcerer, agony in one tiny exposed nerve held my entire body in thrall.

Paul wrote to the church in Corinth to hang in together, to give attention to one another, to treat each other kindly, using the metaphor of a body to get his concept across:

There should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

I may not hurt today, but others do. In the group of believers surrounding me I listen and try to understand and not talk too much. I support my fellow believer in their pain, and they will in turn support me in mine. I’ve experienced this aspect of the Christian faith again and again. It’s quite wonderful actually. Not perfect, but an astounding support in a world that cares little about you and me.

How does a person live without a body of Christ-following people around them, arms locked with one another? In most cases, not terribly well, especially as we age and friends fall away.

Engage with a group of believers. The Lord created you to need them and they to depend on you. Value those sharing the body with you, teeth and toes, knowing the Lord put you together for a purpose.

1 Corinthians 12 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by engin akyurt