Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily devotional. For the near future, we put our Luke series on pause as we have some stand-alone summer devotionals. I hope you find them helpful. This is an updated version of a devotional from 25/4/22.
‘Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 12:12)
Lesson: There are many analogies used for the church and it being 'The body of Christ' speaks of Him accomplishing His will through us.
This week we've thought a lot about what it means to be like the Tabernacle and temple; these places for God's presence were prophetic of the church being God's house and dwelling place. However, it's important that we also see that the church is also to be about doing God's will and the analogy of the body is used in this regard.
I’m sure we’ve all had the experience of being ill or having an injury; a bad back for example. You don’t appreciate health until it’s taken! Maybe we do the exercises or treatment until we are better but, too often, we stop looking after ourselves once we feel okay. We become complacent only for the problem to return. We are told that Christ has a body and we are that body! We are being taught to recognise this and take care of the health of Jesus’ body - the church.
The challenge for all of us is that we become complacent about the body of Christ - the church. Have you and I become unmindful and passive about being a part of the body of Christ? Alternatively, are we energetically playing our part so that it is healthy?Bittlenger comments:
‘In order to accomplish his work on earth, Jesus had a body made of flesh and blood. In order to accomplish his work today, Jesus has a body that consists of living human beings.’ (Prior, David. The Message of 1 Corinthians)
The body is amazing. Do you realise that in one day, the blood travels a total of 12,000 miles! Enough power is generated in the heart in one day to drive a car 20 miles. In a lifetime, that is equivalent to driving to the moon and back. If the natural body is amazing, how much more should the body of Christ be a wonder and be effective in this dark world. This is God’s will - that we prayerfully and practically get involved so as to make the church what she is called to be.
RESPONSE
God’s house, the church, which speaks of His presence, is also spoken of as a body which speaks of His accomplishing His will through us.
Take a moment to reflect: If I was to believe and make the most of being a part of the body of Christ, how would this affect by attitude and actions?
Like the body needs to be joined and working together so, too, we need to be in close relationship with one another. Paul writes of the need for working closely and lovingly together:
‘From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.’ (Ephesians 4:16)
We are all ‘supporting ligaments’ that need to be connected to one another. John Hosier writes,
‘Only in close proximity with other believers can we learn to overcome the challenges of selfishness, immaturity ungodliness.’ (Hosier, Radiant Church, Page 6)
In response, let’s be devoted to building deep relationships in our church family. Do all that we can to be together. When we are together, let’s seek to build each other up in Jesus.
COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY
Until September I'll not be producing a group study. However, if you meet with your group why not simply use one of the devotionals as a basis for your discussion together?
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