“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27
The past month in Honduras we spent time talking about the body of Christ, and how we each have a part. God created us all with a purpose, and there are no 2 people with the same purpose. If we all had the same purpose then nothing would be accomplished. Our squad leader KK prayed into the body and these are the body parts of Fire Starters that she felt God gave her.
Kaitlyn- Spine Jackie-Heart Bryan-White Blood Cells
Sarah-Muscle Jen-Mouth Andrew-Hands
Me-Feet (funny thing about feet….I think they are disgusting!!)
Without everyone in our team working together, we are left handicapped unable to accomplish what God has planned for us.
The same is true for the church. No matter what size church you go to, God has a purpose and a job for you there. It isn’t enough just to show up on Sunday mornings and take up space in a pew. I’ve been guilty of this. I go to a large church, and when I first started going I thought it was okay just to show up for preaching on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. I was overwhelmed with how large the church was, and was content in thinking that there were more than enough people there to run the show and do God’s work. After a few years I started meeting people who encouraged me to get involved more. God blessed me in so many ways. He started revealing to me that His purpose for me was more than just being a number in the crowd on Sunday mornings.
I LOVE the song by Casting Crowns, We Are the Body. Please take a minute and watch the music video at the bottom of this blog. Every time I hear this song I am convicted. How many people has God put in my path for me to be:
- His hands to and reach out and offer a hug, and I refused.
- His shoulder for them to cry on, and I refused.
- His smiling face for them to see the love and joy He has for them, and I refused.
- His ears and just sit and listen as they unload a heavy heart, and I refused.
- His mouth to say, “You are loved!! Can I pray for you?”, and I refused.
- His arms to offer a hug, and I refused.
- His feet to walk a mile in their shoes, and I refused.
God has challenged me starting today. He wants to use me to reach His hurting children. He wants to use YOU to reach a lost and dying world. You don’t have to be in the middle of Nicaragua, Uganda, China or Honduras to be His body. Being His body starts at home, in your neighborhood. Helping the single mom struggling to load the groceries and kids into her car during a rain storm, picking up the morning newspaper for your elderly neighbor and delivering it to their door, shaking hands with the visitors at church and telling them how glad you are they came. Being the body of Christ doesn’t require us being super heroes. It is simple obedience of loving like Christ loves.
Read more about the body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.
