Do you long to be part of something good? Do you want to do good for others? Are you searching for a place where you belong? Have you had bad experiences with organizations or family? Do you know there is a place for you to be?
It is our human nature to desire belonging to a group. For some, the more socially active they are, the better they feel. For others, less social interaction is required, but is still needed. Yet, we desire more than mere social interaction.
We desire a closeness to others, an intimacy of knowing someone well. We desire acceptance and respect. Though we may not fully realize it, there is such a group. Actually, it is more and less than a group. It is called the body of Christ.
Far too many view the church as a social group. If you are one who does, your view of the church needs to change. It is not a mere social group that meets once a week and does good works for others. It is a belonging, a brotherhood and sisterhood, a commitment, an acceptance, and a family.
As Paul tells the Roman church, as members of the body of Christ, we belong to one another. We all have different talents and gifts, but we function as one. We can no more do without one member than a body can do without a hand or foot. Sure, we can stumble and fumble along without one, but we cannot fully function without all the members.
The body of Christ has work to do in this world, just as each of us individually has work to do. When one or more members are absent, the work becomes more difficult, just as your work does when you have a broken arm or leg. The body needs all members functioning well to complete the work assigned.
I pray we all see ourselves as part of the body of Christ. I pray we seek to be well functioning members. I pray each one of us commits to belonging and be accepting within the Body. Find where you belong. Be part of the body. Be a well-functioning member. Accept one another. Go about the work of Christ.
Romans 12:4-5 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Marty Pressey 