(1 Corinthians 12:26 NASB) - Team Effort

(1 Corinthians 12:26 NASB) "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."

My athletic prowess could be summarized with one word.........."nonexistent". I knew from a very early age that I just didn't have the athletic ability that others had. In basketball, I just didn't have the height or the agility to be a good player. In baseball, I did pretty well on the fielding but was miserable at batting. With hockey, I just couldn't get the hang of skating backwards, and I used my stick more to prop me up than to hit the hockey puck.

I *did* however, try out for my junior high football team and was quite surprised when I made the team.........no, not the first string.........or even the second string............I was the guy the coach called on when he just didn't have anyone else.

One thing the coach drilled into us, though, was that he was more interested in how we all played as a team than he was necessarily in individual efforts. He told us that we may sometimes do all of our work and not be recognized for it, but that work was important to the success of the team. Eventually that message made it to us all, and there was great joy when we won, and we all were quite discouraged when we lost.

Brother Paul in the scripture quoted above seems to be saying the same things I heard my coach saying. He makes the point that all of our efforts matter to the Lord. And when one of us succeeds, we should rejoice in that success. When one of us suffers or fails, as it is inevitable in this life, the whole Body suffers along with the individual.

It is easy for me to point to a success in my life and let my pride start trying to delude me into thinking that it was *my* individual effort that made the difference. But I become more convinced as each day passes that if I do anything good in my life, the credit should go to Jesus.............as Paul said in Philippians........"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 NASB)

Jesus is the author and finisher of my life. He is the One who sustains me.............He is the One who gives what I do in my life a sense of purpose and satisfaction. I have no reason to claim credit for the good things that have happened in my life. All of that credit goes to my Lord.

Love in Jesus,

Jim

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"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB)

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."

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This devotional was originally posted on CCI-Devo - Daily Group Devotionals on December 19, 2004 in post #723. It was written by Jim Ross, a former United Pentecostal Church member, who attends Christian Challenge International, the sponsor of the devotional group. The devotional is the copyright of Jim Ross and is reprinted on this site by permission.

Page added May 15, 2005

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