We Are The Body...

1 Corinthians 12:15-18 it says, "If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is therefore not of the body?  If the whole body were an eye where were the hearing?  If the whole body were the hearing, where were the smelling?  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased Him".  Every member of our body works together.  I was discussing this with the kids the other day...how the lungs breathe air, without them working properly we would not get enough air...the heart pumps blood, if it quits pumping blood it will not get to the brain and throughout the body...our brain needs both air and blood to function properly.  Together they keep us alive.  Everybody is given talents and gifts from Him.  Working together we can reach the world!  Last night during the middle of the choir singing at North Cities we had tongues and interpretation: The Lord told us that the church is a hospital for the hurting.  God has called each and every one of us to help a hurting world full of people that need what we have!  To do that we must be unified in Him.

Division is the act, process or instance of separating or keeping apart.  There are many things, that if they are allowed, will cause division in our own lives and also in the body of Christ.  Romans 8:35-39 says, "Who (Greek translate as who, which, what) shall separate (to separate, divide) us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord".  We must not let things separate us from Him.  There are certain characteristics that can separate and divide also.  Ex: quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.  These characteristics can not only maim your reputation but they can hurt many people along the way.  We are not called war against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers,  against the rulers of darkness, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12).  We are called to love as He loved (John. 13:34).  We are called to encourage and edify one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). 

Last night during the choir singing at North Cities, tongues and interpretation came forth saying that the church is a hospital for the hurting.  We can be there for the hurt and wounded in spirit if we are separated and divided.  We must be unified!

A song from Casting Crowns comes to mind..."If We Are The Body"

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 judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road

Jesus paid 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

In closing, the Word of God says that many are called but few are chosen...I all want to remain one of the chosen.  That is why I can not allow things and ungodly characteristics to come between me and God.  I must stay connected to Him and become unified to make a difference.