We are a chosen people, royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light! (1 Peter 2: 9)
Like Peter writes, we are a Holy NATION, a royal PRIESTHOOD. Not a holy person, or a royal priest. We’re called to this as a body. As a group. United! Not in our own little worlds. We’re to be the Kingdom!!
So, if we are called to live and love as a body, then why are our churches splitting up? Why are we arguing over minute things with those around us. Why do we choose so often to escape those we are to serve alongside when we don’t like them? Why are we pursueing our own ambitions?? If we move to another “ministry” setting where this person or group of people are, then aren’t we chasing our own comfort? Our own ideas? Our own ambitions? Maybe instead of moving away, Jesus is asking you to stay!
In the well-known Casting Crowns song “If We Are The Body”, it says:
It’s crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girl’s teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know
But if we are the body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgemental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road
Jesus payed much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ
Jesus is the way
This song is speaking alot to those who are looking into the church, but I also see the powerful message of us in the church needing to be Jesus to one another. We need to serve those around us first. There is no way we can be outward if we aren’t grounded inward first, as a church. So why aren’t His arms reaching? Why aren’t His hands healing? Why aren’t His words teaching? Last time I checked the Bible is still God’s perfect Word. Last time I checked I am called to something much greater than living just to exist. God has spoken to me too much in my life to deny Him. And I’m pretty sure he has done the same to, that’s why you go to church isn’t it? To meet with God!
Community can be a tough thing to be involved in. The funny thing is that we can’t escape it. The church is the body (which means many; every single part and person), the whole body. Jesus sends his disciples out 2 by 2. Why is that? For accountability, foundation, and encouragement perhaps? We need each other just like the disciples, whether they understood it at the time or not.UNCONDITIONALLY! We need to function as a family should. There really is no excuse for us not to. This is the point I’ve come to, and I’m definitely speaking to myself here. We need to start growing up and serving each other no matter what….
The reason I feel strongly about this is because this Jesus guy that I’m following with ALL of my heart, ALL my soul, and ALL my strength is asking me to. He’s asking me to deny myself, to deny everything I think, all of my needs, and all of my wants. He wants me to follow him so that I may know the Father, God. He wants me to live not as the world lives, rather a life of servanthood and selflessness.
And in order to follow Jesus I have to understand where he’s been, and live that radical life as well. And that life is summed up in Philippians 2.
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition of vain concept, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should not only look to your own interests, but also the interests of others.
You attitude should be like that of Christ Jesus: Who being very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, And being found in appearance of a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We are called to become great! WE ARE A HOLY NATION, but we have to become much less than we are to become more! We have to start living in HUMILITY towards one another. We HAVE to start letting people go who are oppressing us. It’s definitely not in our human comfort to want to do that, but Jesus is asking us to let them go. NOT fight back like we feel we should. We have to give up our right to be right. We NEED to let the Lord speak to them, not condemn them ourselves. Who are we? Seriously, who are we? Definitely NOT the judge!
And those of us who feel we aren’t the ones to blame when someone views us as the oppressor, need to change. If we KNOW our words hurt, but it’s not our fault, we still have to step into HUMILITY and change something. It’s not about “it’s their problem they are always offended”. The more we become defensive the others become defensive. And when others get defensive over our defense, we become offensive. That in turn brings the offensive out of the other person. It’s a trap. It’s a divide. It’s a wall. That’s what Satan wants! Why are we letting him have his way. If we would only understand that no matter who is right or wrong we should be saying, “YOU are right” then no-one would ever be wrong. We would all think the other is right! It’s about time we start acting and living the way JESUS has showed us to live and STOP holding on to every little thing we can just to be something or somebody we ARE NOT!
Shouldn’t we be praying over one another for their gifts and strengths and not picking on another’s faults, and shortcomings! We have enough in our own lives to worry about first!
