¹⁸ But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.

²⁸ Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:

¹¹ It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

³ Because of the privilege and authority^[a] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.^[b]

⁵ After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us.

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.

Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving

²¹ At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

³⁸ Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed.

³² “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

¹⁴ Then they cried out to the Lord, Jonah’s God. “O Lord,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.”