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September 29, 2009
The Beautiful Body
Appreciating the Body of Christ |
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Greetings!
The past few months have been very busy with travel all around the States. On each trip good things happened and God was glorified. Fortunately, the good news about travel goes beyond successful events and beyond new sights and sounds. For followers of Jesus, travel also brings an opportunity to worship God in new places with new people.
This last Sunday, I had the opportunity to share a worship service with a different body of believers at Kaleo Fellowship. I had a great time communing with God, worshipping with others and listening to the Word. It was inspiring yet alltogether different from what I am used to. Nonetheless, it was beautiful.
The beauty found in a worship service, whether in your home church or a church far away, is the foundational truth found in Scripture and that truth is that we are one! We are one! We are not separate and distinct entities worshipping a separate and distinct God. We are one. If we allow this truth to penetrate our hearts and minds we will carve out the divisions and distinctions that keep us separate and out of unity.
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12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
~ 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 ~ |
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Won by ONE!
Paul encouraged the early church to remember where they come from ... the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul let the Corinthians know that they were won by One! They are one through Jesus! To win the war for life in our lost and decaying culture we must present a united front that always points to Jesus. He is the One that matters and in Him all divisions and distinctions fall away to leave the essence ... Jesus!
The churches I have visited are so different than my home church, Canyon Hills. Nonetheless, they are beautiful. Some churches are small while others are massive. Some play current music others sing hymns. Some have communion once a month while others do it every Sunday. Some have coffee and donuts in service while others won't let you in the building with a drink. Who cares! The truth still is the truth ... we are One!
It doesn't matter where you worship but it does matter who you worship. I am blessed to be able to travel and experience the fullness of God's Body in worship, service and teaching. Is everyone the same? No. But, we are still one. I love the diversity of expression, services, worship and teaching. Think of how boring life would be if we were all the same. I am thankful for the fullness of God's Body.
Remember, there is no such thing as the prefect church. Church is a Godly institution run by humans. We will mess it up but that isn't the focus. Jesus is. So, stop looking for the prefect church - it doesn't exist. Go where you feel God leading and stay there. Give a Bible believing, Bible teaching church one year and watch your life transform. Enjoy the fullness of God's beautiful Body and thrive in the diversity He allows in our Oneness.
This week, meditate on these passages and remember - we are one... we are Won by One!
Ephesians 1:23
Colossians 1:24
Colossians 3:15
Romans 12:4-5
Philippians 2:2 |
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For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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