The Upper Room Devotional 29th November 2023
The Upper Room Devotional 29th November 2023, Wednesday Message by Ric Lillard (Maryland, USA)
TOPIC: The Fifth String
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God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. – 1 Corinthians 12:24-25 (NIV)
One Sunday I gave the children’s message during my church’s worship service. Since I enjoy playing the five-string banjo, I used it as an example of the church, the body of Christ. I showed the children that the banjo has five strings, but that the fifth string is much shorter than the others — just as they are shorter than the adults in our church. Also, the fifth string usually is not noted or fretted as often as the others, so it gets a little less attention — just as they, the children, may not get as much attention as the other members of the church.
But this doesn’t mean that they are any less important to the life of the church. I showed how that shorter, fifth string is tuned to the highest pitch of the five strings, which enables it to sound a bright, cheerful tone — without which any tune played would not be nearly as pleasing. I played a short tune without striking the fifth string and then the same tune using the fifth string. What a difference!
All members of the church are important in spreading the gospel message, as well as in the many other functions of being the church. The talents of all members, children included, should meld with others to spread the love and joy that Christ gives to everyone.
TODAY’S PRAYER
O God, keep us mindful that we are all vital to you and your work on earth. We pray and serve in the name of Jesus. Amen.
TODAY’S READING
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 21-26
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Each of us is a member of Christ’s body, equipped by God to spread love and joy.
PRAYER FOCUS
Children in my church
The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. The meditations are stories of real people working to live faithfully with the Bible as their touchstone. Every day, readers of The Upper Room around the world read the same story in many different languages and pray the same prayer together.
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