“I AM HIS HANDS”
OUR DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
READ: 1 Corinthians 12 (Focus vs. 12–21)
MEMORY VERSE
“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” 1 Corinthians 12:21
BACKGROUND
Jia Haixia lost his sight in the year 2000. His friend Jia Wenqi lost his arms as a child. But they’ve found a way around their disabilities. “I am his hands and he is my eyes,” Haixia says. Together, they’re transforming their village in China.
Since 2002 the friends have been on a mission to regenerate a wasteland near their home. Each day Haixia climbs on Wenqi’s back to cross a river to the site.
Wenqi then “hands” Haixia a shovel with his foot, before Haixia places a pail on a pole between Wenqi’s cheek and shoulder. And as one digs and the other waters, the two plant trees—more than 10,000 so far. “Working together, we don’t feel disabled at all,” Haixia says. “We’re a team.”
The apostle Paul likens the church to a body, each part needing the other to function. If the church were all eyes, there’d be no hearing; if all ears, there’d be no sense of smell (1 Corinthians 12:14–17).
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ ” Paul says (v. 21). Each of us plays a role in the church based on our spiritual gifts (vv. 7–11, 18). Like Jia Haixia and Jia Wenqi, when we combine our strengths, we can bring change to the world.
Two men combining their abilities to regenerate a wasteland. What a picture of the church in action!
By: Sheridan Voysey
INSIGHT
In Paul’s first New Testament letter to the Corinthians, he describes two ways his readers have been overlooking the body of Christ. First, they were ignoring the significance of sharing bread and wine in remembrance of His shed blood and broken body (1 Corinthians 11:29).
In the process, they were also failing to live for the good of one another. Paul went on to explain that the Holy Spirit had gifted them to work together, just as members of our human bodies help and depend on each other (12:12–27).
Paul sees his readers as members of the body of Christ brought together to share the heart of love he describes in chapter 13.
By: Mart DeHaan
APPLICATION
Based on your spiritual gifts, what part do you play in the body of Christ? How are you joining with others to fulfill His mission?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
10)”So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11)Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12)But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13)And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.” Joshua 17:10-13
God always sends us to the “Church” where we are needed to make that Church Whole/Complete. Have you found the right Church? – pr
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (My Re-Emphasis from Post)
“…when we combine our strengths, we can bring change to the world.”
*YOUR TAKE? 
PRAYER
“Holy Spirit, thank You for giving me spiritual gifts and arranging me in a body where I’m needed.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL
“TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD” Rilee O’Neill
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight
I believe it’s not too late
Together we can change the world
Lay the puzzle pieces out
Find out what it’s all about
Together we can change the world
Can’t do it by myself
So I’m asking for your help
Together we can change the world
Sail past where it’s been charted
Roll your sleeves up, let’s get started
Together we can change the world
Together we can change the world
With our hands and with our hearts
We can dare to make a start
Together we can change the world
What if we spoke with one voice
Knowing that we have a choice?
Together we can change the world
Can’t do it by myself
Together we can change the world…
Change your mind and change your life
Set aside the fear and strife
Together we can change the world
When we open up our eyes
Then we start to realize
Together we can change the world
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight
I believe it’s not too late
Together we can change the world
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (THIS WEEK)
THE BOOK OF HOSEA (CHAPTERS 1-7)
THE BOOK OF MATTHEW (CHAPTERS 1-10)