1 Corinthians 12:27 "Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it."
There is great promise and encouragement that can be had here.
There is also great conviction and accountability that can be had here.
If you are a believer, if you confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then YOU are NOW a PART of the body of Christ. How amazing!!! YOU are a part of the embodiment of Christ in our world today. Not an extension of, but a PART of! You are intimately CONNECTED. Nothing can take you away. Nothing has the ability to take you from being a part of the body of Christ.
Maybe you are a part like the arm. Something happens and "cuts you." It just means some healing needs to take place. Maybe something happens within you. Something like an "infection." Well, the antibodies IN the body will have to fight the infection. It may make you a little weaker and sick, but it is coming to bring healing in the long run.
You see---the world may "cut you". You still are connected.
You may allow infection (sin) in. The antibodies (brothers and sisters in Christ who hold to the faith) will have to help fight the infection for the sake of helping you be the healthy part you are meant to be.
BUT YOU ARE STILL A PART!
Of course, there is a flip side. You ARE a PART of it. So what are you doing with the PART of it you are? Church "worlds" seem to be interesting these days. Some people jump around from church to church while they seek the church THEY can get the most from. Random question; since when was church about what YOU can get? Isn't it to be where you go to worship the Father, learn more from His Word, bring encouragement to others, and let yourself be used to serve and reach out to others? **Now--if a church is not following the Word--different story. That's not church hopping. That is called discernment, and seeking the fellowship you are called to serve in.
Some people jump around for "protection." Protection?", you ask. Yes, protection. They have caused strife. Maybe they have been held accountable and want to be able to "hide" the issues they deal with. Going somewhere else "protects" them since they are now around people who don't know the real person that the runner is. Of course, time tells all. If it is a person who causes trouble...eventually they will cause trouble somewhere else. If it is a person who wants their secret world "protected", eventually someone will see, and they will have to run again.
Isn't it better to just deal with who you are, OWN who you are, and let your life become defined by the Savior of the World that you claim is within you?
You have a role to play. Are you going to connect and be the part God calls you to be? Are you going to make excuses to not be what you are called to be, in the place He has called you? It does not matter what you did yesterday. It does not matter what your excuses are.
Today is a new day. Rise up and be a part of the body you have been called to be. I know this is confusing in the 5 zillion options of churches there are. Heaven will be great because we will truly be one fellowship of Christ. But look at yourself now. Look at where YOU are. Are you seeking a church to "fill YOU", to provide "protection" from what others may have seen from the bed you have made, or are you being a functional part of the body you are meant to be? It's rough to be missing an arm. Especially if the arm is still connected, just not doing what it is supposed to. Oh how great it is when all the parts work the way they are supposed to though!!!
Taking Up The Cross...
Clinging to His Love...
David Boncler
