"Symbiosis"
Elaine Cook Carr, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts,[yet one body.The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
1 Corinthians 12:14-26
Down here in the Deep South we are surrounded by an incredible amount of natural beauty. I cannot begin to list all the lovely things that grow here but we have multiple varieties of trees and shrubs and beautiful moss hangs from the few oaks trees that remain after the last devastating category five hurricane that struck here in 2018.
Recently I have noticed many lichens growing in the cracks and crevices in the woods we often explore (spoiler alert-science lesson ahead). If you don't know what they are, lichens are gray-green organisms that grow almost barnacle-like on rocks, trees, stumps, and on the ground in places where the sun rarely shines directly. For most of my life, I believed them to be a type of mushroom (fungus) or moss. I wasn't completely wrong, but I was far from being exactly right. Lichens are quite the complex life form that consists of a symbiotic partnership, or close relationship, of two separate organisms, a fungus and an alga.
In addition to being strangely pretty, these living organisms serve several purposes. The primary purpose is to provide a mode of survival in harsh environments where algae cannot normally survive. Since the fungus can protect the algae, these normally water-requiring organisms can live in dry, hot places without dying. The fungus cannot photosynthesize so it cannot create food on its own from sunlight, but the algae can. This relationship also makes lichens capable of removing carbon dioxide from the air and converting it into oxygen, which we all need to survive. Lastly, lichens have the ability to absorb pollutants from the air. Of course, none of this is by accident - it is all by design, God’s design. These two organisms, combined into one, cannot survive, one without the other. This example from nature clearly reminds us that God has also designed his people to be relational and symbiotic. As believers, we are all a part of one body, the church, and together we are an amazing organism.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
The COVID pandemic has served to show us that WE are the church - not a building or a place. We must rely on one another and work together for the sake of the kingdom. We have learned that we can grow and flourish even in the harshest of circumstances! We have learned that others have been our hands when we could not lift our own. We have learned to be feet and legs for those who have been unable to stand. We have been mighty warriors banded in prayer for the sick, the suffering, the dying, and those in pain from loss.
May we always be reminded of this incredible oneness in Christ: that we have experienced:
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
I Cor. 12: 14-26
Together, as we bear one another's burdens, we are stronger than we could ever be as individuals. How beautiful is the body of Christ!
PRAYER
Lord, may we always be thankful for our brothers and sisters in the Lord. May we be willing to work together for the sake of the kingdom. We thank You, Lord, for close relationships that bind us together in Christ and that we are knit into one body, one mind, and one spirit. Bless us that we might do Your bidding.
Are there other women in your life who could benefit from a daily dose of encouragement? Forward this email so they can click on this link to Subscribe to Daily Treasure to be better equipped to walk by faith on the pathway God has marked out for them.
Sharon W. Betters is the author of Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, co-author of Treasures of Faith. and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture. She is Director of Resource Development and co-founder of MARKINC.org, a non-profit organization that offers help and hope to hurting people. Sharon enjoys quality time with her husband, children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.