“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”―Rom. 12:3-53For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:3‑5).
IN the human body, every member has its special office, and has a peculiar fitness for performing its part. Each member contributes something for the general good of the body, and it never changes its office. Its fitness and suitability for performing it remain as long as it is in the body, unless it be disabled; nor does one member ever exchange its office with another. The eye never takes the place of the ear, nor the ear of the eye. The foot does not usurp the place of the hand, nor the hand of the foot. Each member remains, as at its creation; its office is never exchanged, though it may by exercise grow in strength. My right hand, from constant use, has a greater aptness for performing many acts than it had in childhood, but it is still a hand. So in the members of the body of Christ, there may be a spiritual growth; but they never change their office. It is of momentous import ante that this doctrine have influence on our hearts and spirits. We can picture to ourselves nothing more hideous than a natural body with all its members misplaced. A foot, where there should be a hand; an eye taking the place of an ear; and the like. We as imagine nothing more hideous than this, except the like things in the spiritual body―a disordered church; each member doing a part which does not belong to him. The members, instead of filling their respective places, parted, displaced, transposed; can we conceive a greater monster? We should admire the peculiar fitness, in the figures which the Holy Ghost employs. It is particularly striking in the one we are now considering, comparing the church to the members of the body. Let us imagine that only the eye and the ear should change places; the eye could not hear, nor could the ear see. So in the church, each member is fitted for its place. The Holy Ghost has not given to the foot power to perform that which should rather be done by the hand. We see also in the natural body the union and sympathy of the members, especially if anyone be disabled or injured. In like manner, the whole church is affected by the sin of an individual; one member out of its place disturbs the profit of all. De not imagine that I am alluding to anything, or any member in particular: this is far, very far, from ray mind; but I would press on all the solemn obligation binding on each member, to find out his proper office in the body. This is especially pointed out to us is these verses; but it can only be discerned by the single and spiritual eye. A question will arise in the minds of many, What office can I possibly have in the body? In order rightly to apprehend what is our place, we must ever remember, that there are some offices in the church which are special, such as pastors, teachers, &c. But though only a few, comparatively, are called to fill these, yet no member is excluded from holding some office; and if any desire to know what that is, if he ask wisdom of the Lord to discern it, the Holy Ghost will teach such an one. He shall hear a voice behind him, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it. We are ignorant, but the Spirit of God will instruct us. So much sin and corruption is lodging in our flesh, and too often nourished there, that it is difficult to attain to the knowledge of ourselves, and none but the Spirit of God can teach us. When He is our instructor we shall be delivered from many of the snares of Satan, which so often entangle us. But how does he work? In what way does He instruct His people? By prayerfully studying the written word, and by a better acquaintance with Christ, His person, work, character, offices, &c. “In Thy light shall we see light.” In walking with God we learn more of His mind, His character, and His dealings. There is one service to which every child of God is, in a measure, called; we Ind it in 1 Cor. 13. In the 31St verse of the preceding chapter the apostle says, “But covet earnestly the best gifts; and yet show I unto you a more excellent way;” and this is the way of love. “Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Greatest in regard of the edification of the body, not as it respects our justification. Faith is the greatest, so far as our acceptance with God is concerned. Faith brings sin to God, and sees it laid upon Christ.
All are called to the exercise of love, though all do not exercise an equal measure of it. Our trials are suited to what we are able to bear. The rough wind is stayed in the day of the east wind. But we have also something to bear in love. “Love thinketh no evil.” Have we none of us, at times, judged hardly of a brother, without first having gone to him and asked, Did you mean to offend me? Some are more tried than others, and then how lovely it is to see this fruit of the Spirit called forth in them.
May we all seek faithfully to fill up our places in the body, according to the will of God!