Paul describes the body: 'If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.' This is how the body actually works.
My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Suddenly I was watching her manage blood sugar, inject insulin, worry about complications. I couldn't fix it. But I was suffering with her. I was checking her blood sugar at night. I was terrified with her. And when she hit milestones—a great A1C, a day without a low—I rejoiced with her.
That's what Paul is describing. You're not separate. You're body. When any part suffers, everyone suffers. I see this in my congregation. When one family is grieving, the whole church grieves. When someone recovers from illness, we all celebrate. We're not isolated individuals. We're interconnected. And that means we can't be indifferent to each other's pain or joy.
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