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Sep 22, 2025 06:00am

When Your Back Gives Out: A Lesson on the Body of Christ

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Last night, I got up from the chair and felt a twinge. It wasn’t there when I sat down. But all of a sudden, yikes! Something had happened to my lower back.

Immediately, my hand went to it, as if it could offer some sort of relief or could console it in some way. Every step I took, I could feel it.

If you suffer from lower back pain, or any chronic pain for that matter, I truly feel for you. I’ve never dealt with back issues. My husband does, but it’s one thing to feel compassion for them and another to join them in their misery.

Honestly, I never realized how much we use or need the strength of our lower back muscles. I was learning quickly just how much we use it and don’t realize it. Bending over, reaching, just walking. Whew! I could certainly tell how important these muscles were to everyday life and function!

While we may have one body, it’s made up of many parts. All of them essential for proper function. Unified, working together to accomplish small and large tasks.

Paul uses the body as an example of the church.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.”

Let’s recap for just a moment where we are in 1 Corinthians. Paul is writing to the believers in Corinth because he has heard about their conflicts with one another and the division it’s causing. Prior to this passage, Paul was explaining about spiritual gifts given to every believer. Some within the church felt they were more “spiritual” or better than others because of the gift they had received. But Paul explained that all believers and their gifts are essential to doing the work of Christ as the church. Just as every part of the body is essential for proper function.

The eyes can do what the ears cannot. The hands can do what the feet cannot. They don’t act like they aren’t part of the body because they have different functions. They work together to accomplish the same mission of the body.

The point: use your gift, whatever it may be, to serve the Lord with gladness. And if another member suffers, come alongside them and offer strength and comfort. Just as my hand knew to do as soon as my back felt that twinge.

When we work together, using our gifts the way God intended, we can accomplish great things for Him. We fulfill His purpose for our lives!

He has called you, gifted you, and is equipping you to share the gospel and make disciples. Wherever He has you, however He has gifted you, use it. You are important to the mission of Christ!

If you want to know more about being a disciple of Christ or want to disciple someone else, check out FOLLOW. This is Lifeword’s FREE discipleship tool for you! Go to follow.lifeword.org or follow.lifeword.org/spanish.