Opus. That’s not a word I use in everyday conversation . . . but it’s a word that comes to mind this morning. At its simplest, it means a “work.” Specifically, it most commonly refers to a musical composition. Broadly, it can refer to any creative work. Devotionally, this morning, I see it in God’s magnificent arrangement of the body of Christ, the church.

As Paul continues to address issues within the Corinth church, he comes to the topic of spiritual gifts. These believers were “not lacking in any spiritual gift” (1Cor. 1:7), yet you get the sense that these gifts had become another reason for divisions to develop within the church. And so, Paul reminds them that, while there are different gifts, there is one Spirit, one Lord, one God (1Cor. 12:4-6) . . . that these gifts are given for the common good (12:7) . . . and that it is the Spirit who “apportions to each one individually as He wills” (12:11). Rather than arguing about which gift is greater . . . or who’s more spiritual because of the gift they possess . . . Paul says that the variety of gifting is in accord with the diversity of the members of a body and that it is God who has “arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose” (12:18) . . . that He has “appointed” individual members to play specific roles (12:28) . . . that He has “so composed the body” (12:24). The body of Christ is God’s work . . . His creative work . . . His opus.

That word, “composed”, is found only twice in the New Testament . . . here and in Hebrews 4:2 where it speaks of the need for the gospel to be “mixed” with faith. Literally the word means to “commingle” . . . to mix together . . . in the old King James the translators rendered it to “temper together.” That is the nature of those who are in Christ . . . a mixing together of individuals to create a whole . . . a bringing together of different members to form a body . . . different notes arranged to create a symphony . . . God’s great composition . . . His eternal opus.

Sometimes I think we need to recapture a sense of wonder and awe concerning the church. It is way too easy to get focused on the “works in progress” and not see the masterpiece God is putting together. Too easy to see all the rough edges of the “living stones” still being conformed into the shape of His Son and fail to marvel at the spiritual house God is building (1Peter 2:5). Too easy to fixate on how goofy some of the sheep are (forgetting that we too are but a sheep), and not praise God anew for sending His Son, the Great Shepherd, to gather together the flock.

God has composed the Body . . . He adds new members . . . He determines who plays what role . . . He arranges the pieces as pleases Him . . . He sets in order the individual parts according to His Sovereign wisdom and grace. The Body is His creative work “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10). The church, consisting of all believers on a global level, and of the “sinners saved by grace” who gather together with me at the building down the road, is God’s creative work . . . a lost world needing to hear the new song we have been given to share . . . the powers in heavenly places watching from on high and beholding the multi-faceted movements of God’s grace and wisdom.

How can we not be a fan of the church? Is the church perfect? Mmmm . . . not right now? But know that one day He will present us to Himself “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27) . Know that now He is “mixing us together” as serves His purpose and pleasure . . . know that He has called each one to play a specific part within His eternal song of redemption . . . know that we are His composition . . . His grand symphony . . . His creative work . . . His opus. All for His glory!

You gotta love the church . . .