Like Peas In A Pod
Like peas in a pod and cozy in its wrapping, all happy and never complaining, working together.
No... like peas in a pod all uncomfortable and cramped for space, all complaining and fighting with each other.
No...like peas in a pod, all working together, comforting each other, loving each other, having compassion on each other, feeling each other and seeing each other as we all grow together with one purpose, to serve Him and love and support each other...yes.
The body of Christ is like this. When one hurts we feel them, when one rejoices we rejoice with them, when one mourns we mourn with them. What a beautiful purpose and plan that God has given us when we don't resist.
Romans 12:4 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,
Then this Word goes on to say, use your gifts, whether prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhorting, giving liberally, leading with diligence, showing mercy cheerfully, loving without hypocrisy, (loathe, detest)abhorring what is evil, clinging, holding onto what is good, showing affection to one another in brotherly love, giving (priority,) preference, to one another...and I could rewrite the whole text but it's worth reading until we 'see' this calling. We all have been 'called'. Which brings me to scripture always. "He who has ears, let him hear, he who has eyes, let them see". Who will hear? Who will see?"
This is a great translation ___The Message Romans 12:5 The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, 6 let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't. If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; 7 if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; 8 if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face. 9 Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. 10 Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. 11 Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, 12 cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. 13 Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. 14 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. 15 Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. 16 Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. 17 Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. 18 If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. 19 Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
So the members of the entire body, becomes one, we are one body in Christ. The body of Christ isn't in a building, it is over the earth. Our call is to go out as disciples. Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature". (Go into all the world, and don't neglect your own neighborhoods, of course my entry). And this riddle that we all learned as a child, isn't what it's about, 'Here's the church, here's the steeple, open the doors, and here's the people'. This is the fellowship, a place to come together, after going out into the highways and hedges and bringing them in to be fed, and grow and in turn, 'called' to go out and do it again.
Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!! Don't resist!! Break out of the pod and go out into the world and preach the Good News! Proclaim the Name of Jesus, His peace and salvation, unashamed!
Video & Song
'Here Am I' Mercy Me
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1bfn4BUBuKw&feature=related
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