IT DOES NOT STOP WITH ONE by Robert Soto

IT DOES NOT STOP WITH ONE by Robert Soto

February 3, 2010

I Corinthians 12:26 "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

It has been a day of rest and healing. A few weeks ago I stepped on a nail that went pretty deep into my right foot. It seemed to be healing well so I went back to my normal routine. Well, it had only healed on the outside but the inside was still infected so the infection recurred and now I am told by my doctor to rest, keep my leg up above my heart and stay off my feet. That is about as bad as being told I cannot talk. Well, I have been relaxing while working as much as I can on my computer. One of the things that happened with my foot hurting was that the hurt was not limited to my foot. It seemed to travel to my knees, my hips, my back and even my neck. Then as my back hurt so did my other knee and my other foot. My elbows seem to feel miserable so that my body seems to feel all around miserable. So if one part of the body hurts it seems like the pain is felt everywhere else.

In many ways, that is the way it is with a family or a tribe or a church or any group. When one suffers it seems that the rest suffer with them. When one rejoices, the body or group should rejoice with them. It was as Paul wrote, "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." The hurt does not stop with the one suffering, but the suffering continues to the rest of the family members. So that when one suffers, we should suffer with them; or when one rejoices we should rejoice with them. So as I sit here with pain in my right foot, the rest of my body continues to remind me that one part is suffering. So I do what it takes to make it feel better so that the rest of the body can feel better too. Be sensitive to those who hurt around you and remind them that they are not alone.

Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:

McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church