When I read Romans 12:4–5 today, an old Beatles song popped into my head.
Do you need anybody?
I just need somebody to love?
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to love.
I don’t recommend “With a Little Help from My Friends,” but God’s Word has much to tell us about relationships and love.
Relationships and Love
Jesus has assigned us the calling to worship, love, help, and tell. We worship the One True God, are to be known by our love, see every person as our neighbor, and use every opportunity God gives us to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ. That’s what Romans 12:4–5 is all about.
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Romans 12:4–5
You may ask, where is worship, love, help, and tell in this passage of Scripture? Well, there’s more in today’s text than may first be evident.
We Are One
“For as in one body” speaks about the Church. Every faithful Christian is a member of the Church, the Body of Christ Jesus. And what do we do in His Church? We corporately love, worship, and praise God.
Fellowship and Function
And “we have many members” speaks of our fellowship and love with other believers. We are to be known by our love. In His Church, we behave as His Family.
Now we are told, “the members do not all have the same function.” This is a core characteristic of a family. Some family members go out into the world to work, minister, and bless. Some members go out into the world to engage the lost through sports, social activities, or educational institutions. We also have members that work within the Church to provide for the needs of the members of the Church. Every member is commanded to see every person as our neighbor, to use their gifts to help their neighbors, and to use every opportunity to tell their neighbors about Jesus.
Perfect Diversity
The opening statement in verse five is astounding – “so we, though many, are one body in Christ.” Here we have a clear call for the body to be diverse. The Church is ethnically, culturally, behaviourally, and dogmatically diverse. Jesus loves all of us and includes all believers in His Church.
Finally, we read, “and individually members one of another.” Every believer belongs to every other member. We weep with those that weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. We are all in this together.
We’re All In
In this present world, we have placed our way of life in the hands of Jesus. And we have placed our eternity in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We have no “plan B.” We have just one spiritual passport. We are citizens of the kingdom of God and no other.
Good News
The Holy Spirit put a lot in these two verses from Romans, chapter twelve. There is much for us to meditate on in this passage of Scripture; we need to allow this Truth to renew our minds.
“Do you need anybody?” Yes, you need everybody in the Body of Christ. “Could it be anybody?” Yes, everyone is your neighbor. “I want somebody to love.” Christ Jesus, your Savior, has given you Almighty God and every person in this world to love. Now, let’s all go do that!
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