You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27
Have you ever had one part of your body not work correctly? Did you at that moment realize how important that part was? When one part of our body does work properly, other parts have to work harder. This is how it is in the Body of Christ. When one is not doing its part, the church isn’t healthy. God made it so that we are dependent on one another. We need each other. Even if we do hurt one another, we still need each other. This is where repentance and forgiveness has to be a part of our everyday life.
When one member is missing, we miss out on the fullness of life God has intended for the church. The Holy Spirit ’s work is to enable and equip a person to function in the assignment where God puts him in the body. Not every member is an apostle, teacher, prophet, etc. This is why we need each other to accomplish God’s will and purpose. We each have a God-given function.
What kind of statements have you hear people say about the body of Christ?
Let’s take a look at a few. “I think we should clean up our church rolls and get rid of all the names of people who don’t attend any more.” How should we respond to this? It makes since to me that if people are no longer coming to church is to remove them. However, the body is not complete without all the members God has given to the body. The members of the body need every other member of the body. This is a tough place. If you find your church in this place, make sure you as a body have done everything that can be done to have this unification. Ask the hard question of why someone has stop going to church. Reach out to the person(s) who is not attending anymore. Of course, if the person has moved away, yes clean up the roll call.
How about if a member got themselves into trouble with the law. It is ok for us to write them off? No! We as members of the body should have equal concern for each other. We need to confront this member and also be praying for them, but when they return we need to love them and accept them and keep praying for them. There are so many more scenarios. One thing is for sure, we need to remember that Christ is the head and we need to be looking to the Holy Spirit for guidance on how to handle each one and that we are doing what Christ would do and be doing God’s will.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this wonderful beautiful day. Thank you for each member of the church, even if we are not of the same church or denomination. God I pray that we will stay Christ centered and focused on you and not the people. I pray that we will each keep seeking you and what you want done here on earth .
In Jesus Name
Amen
