One Big Eye?

John was my driver yesterday for a minor surgery that was required. He ministered to me so powerfully by being available. When we set out, he paused to invite the Lord to be with us, to keep me, to help the surgeon. What peace followed his prayer!  When I was slow to recover, he was there, a steadying presence in the room.  At day’s end, Laura, who spent the afternoon, bowed her head with mine and her prayer was like a drink of cool water, refreshing, renewing.  

This is the Body of Christ.  Bev and I have re-discovered the joy of being ‘in Christ’ in so many ways during our recent times of testing; meals, prayers, cards, words of encouragement, hugs, prayer shawls, loving little text messages, ‘chemo comfort paks,’ and more.

I hope you’re connected to Christ’s Body deeply for times like that. It is next to impossible to become intimate friends with people if the only connection happens in the main sanctuary for 75 minutes on Sunday morning. Shaking hands with a few and exchanging polite greetings is a start, but does that grow into the real kind of friendship we need?  Our local church offers opportunities for people to be in small groups, where there are shared meals, deep discussions, and personal prayers. That is where Christ's life really takes root! 

Life is packed with activities so each of us will have to determine a priority choice to treat church connections like a second family.   That choice pays tremendous dividends. It isn’t just for the sad or hard times.  Celebration is enhanced when others rejoice with you. There is healthy correction to be found in having others speak to you honestly, lovingly, as they get to know you beyond the public image.

God tells us to "think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” He also directs us to “not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his (Christ’s) return is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, NLT)

When this pastor encourages people to be in church, it’s not just to get better numbers or fill seats. It is because I KNOW that faithful church attendance and involvement in ministry and small groups is God’s plan and a key to mature, healthy Christianity.  

Will it always be enjoyable? No! Conflict arises even among those who love Jesus, and sometimes over silly things. 

Will it always be convenient? No! Calendars will fill up and something will have to be set aside for the sake of what’s most important.  

Will people meet your expectations? No.  I’ll readily admit that in spite of my best intentions, this pastor is seen by some as ‘failed,’ because I did not come through in a way they expected.  

However, the church is mine, nor is it yours.  It’s His.  If our involvement is focused on worshiping Him, serving Him, loving Him – we will stay the course in the place to which He has called us through good times and bad.

"The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. … if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body." (1 Corinthians 12:12-20, NLT)  "All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT)

I hope to see you ‘in church,’ and I don’t just mean in a building.

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Father,  I thank you for the Church - 

Your people drawn together in love for You and one another.

Make her strong, beautiful, and fill her with Your Spirit.

And, as she lives worthy of her high calling, 

may others be drawn to Christ, changed for now and eternity.

Amen.