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What happens when you accidentally nick your finger with a kitchen knife? Your back stiffens, your voice says "ouch," your eyes water, and your feet head for the medicine cabinet. What happens when you see your son make his first home run? Your legs suddenly put you in a standing position, your voice yells, your hands clap—and maybe your eyes water again. Joy and pain are whole body experiences.

It's supposed to be that way in a church, too. In his beautiful metaphor of the body of Christ, Paul talks about how various people make up the feet, hands, eyes, and head. He even talks about body parts (people) who are least important (12:24). His point is that it takes all these varied people to make up a church. Since they're really one body, if one hurts, the others should say "ouch." If one is honored, they should all be smiling. That's the way a single body works.

The same is true in a marriage. In marriage you "become one" with your spouse. When he hurts, you're sad. When he's honored, you're joyful. If you're both Christians, the one body that the two of you have become symbolizes the body of Christ. In the next week, try each day to find a new way to express a "one-body" relationship with your spouse. You'll be surprised what you learn—and you'll have some fun along the way, too! (See also Genesis 2:18-25; Ruth 1:15-18.)

If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 1 Corinthians 12:26-27

How do you mourn with your spouse when he mourns, and rejoice with him when he rejoices?

Copyright 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.

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