The Church Body

        My wife had surgery today on her right leg and we received many get well wishes and facebook post's telling us that people were praying for us, and that made us feel really good to know that people care enough to go to stand in the gap for us and ask God for healing and comfort on us. Then we get home and we get dinner brought to us from a couple of different sources, and once again we realized that people care. Well after I got home and got her in the bed and resting and then my daughter went to bed I started to reflect on the day and some really neat things came to mind.
          my wife's surgery causes her to be off her feet for a minimum 3 days and then if she feels like it she can start to get up and try to get around, but she will have to compensate for the lack of a properly working right leg by using crutches and relying on her left leg. Now the problem here is my wife had a form of this surgery in February on her left leg and it's not back at 100% either. This leaves her vulnerable to fall easier than normal because of the lack of power in that region of her body, meaning the left leg is being called on to pick up the slack and do something that is not it's job within the body. When I sat down this evening and thought about it I thought WOW, sounds like the church doesn't it.
           In 1 Corinthians 12:18-28 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be. As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unrepresentable are treated with special modesty,  while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
             When we look at these scriptures, we see the design of how we as a church are really one body, the body of the church that God has designed , just like our human body ,to work in unison together as one for the Glory of God. We are saved through Christ Jesus so that we might live eternally in Heaven, but our story doesn't just stop at Salvation, that is the just the beginning. Jesus said in Mark 16:15 Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Now this does not mean the same thing for everyone out there. God calls us to our individual tasks according to his plan for us, but we all work as a unit, or as a BODY , according to his plan in order to get the Gospel out to the world. For some they are called to be Pastors and Preachers- These are the individuals that God calls to Shepherd the herd and lead them to the path of righteousness through his word. and to guide his flock and manage his church. Then some are called to be Missionaries- Those who are called to go into foreign lands,leaving family,friends and possessions behind to go and evangelize dry and barren lands for Christ. Then there are the Teachers- these people are the ones called to take and help others to learn the word of God in more of a personal  study enviroment, where they can ask questions and have more interaction than say in a worship service. Then you have Those who help others- Now I know what you are thinking, because I thought it also. Isn't everyone mentioned above fall into this category and you would be right. But not everybody in this category can be lumped into the categories above. What I mean by that is that some people are called to be the behind the scenes individuals.These might be the one who cleans the sanctuary for Sunday Service, or the one who fills the communion cups. They are also the Prayer Warrior, that due to health or circumstance might be considered a shut in but they can take the needs of the Church's and it's members, and intercede to the Father and see the hand of God move because of their faithfulness. They are also the ones that take the food to those who are sick or recovering from sickness and/or surgery. They are the one who goes and visits the shut in who can't get out. These individuals, or these "Limbs" of the Church Body, are just as important as the Pastor or evangelist or Sunday School Teacher. For without these Limbs, the Body doesn't function at full strength, which means the Word of God is not revealed in it's fullness as God has ordained.
           Brother's and Sister's I ask you , are you being a fully operating "Limb" in your Church Body? If not then today is the day you can help the body to regain its strength and help to change lives for Christ. Jesus Said If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour.
           If you are reading this and don't know Jesus , then please contact me at christcalled@gmail.com, and let me pray for you and with you and help you to find a church home where you can grow in your faith and become a warrior for God. God Bless all who  read this and may God bless your comings and your goings this week.

In Christ's Love,
   Bill Roy