Many Parts, One Body

Have you ever played a team sport and experienced the dependency of one on the other? Have ever been part of a brotherhood or sisterhood that was very tight with one another? What is your experience in the church? Is it like that? Do you think it should be like that?

Many of us have played team sports or been a part of a team in some way or another. It is fun when everyone on the team is pulling for one another and encouraging one another. The game is a joy. We like that atmosphere. We want to be in that environment for the rest of our lives.

I remember being in my first unit as a Marine. Our platoon was tight. Oh, we picked on and teased one another. We might even get into a heated argument or fight. But no one outside the platoon was allowed to pick on someone within our platoon. It didn’t matter how mad we might have been with a platoon member the day before, we stood up for them. It was a brotherhood.

Our churches are to be the same way. Sure, we might disagree on something from time-to-time. We might not like the way someone acts. We might not agree on the color the nursery wall needs to be painted. We might not even agree on a particular viewpoint of Scripture. But we are to stand solidly shoulder-to-shoulder with our brother and sister in Christ.

The Apostle Paul is trying to get this point across to the church in Rome. He used the analogy of body parts, but the meaning is the same. Each of us fits into the body of Christ with gifts and graces. Those gifts and graces are needed for the body to function well. Our feet meet not be pretty, but we aren’t going far without them. We may have dirt under our fingernails, but that simply means we have been working. Every body part is needed. Every member is needed. Every member needs to use their gifts for the body to function as God desires.

I pray we all know we are needed. I pray we set aside differences to support one another. I pray each one of us will use our gifts to help the body of Christ function as it should. Know you are needed. Tell someone they are needed. Be thankful for brothers and sisters in Christ. Use your gifts as God desires.

Romans 12:4-5 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

Renew Your Mind

Have you ever felt lost? Have you wondered why you are where you are? Have you wondered what your purpose in life is? Are you willing to listen to good advice? Are you willing to follow God’s plan for your life? Do you want to know what his plan is for you?

Often, we think we know what we want to do. But that’s the crux of the issue, isn’t it? It is what we want to do, not necessarily what we are gifted to do. We pursue what we want only to discover we aren’t really gifted for it. We may become miserable while pursuing what we want.

On the other hand, we may need to go through a series of pursuits to not only find what we are designed to do, but to prepare us for it as well. For example, I am on my third profession (fourth if you count my short stint out of the Marine Corps). I have been a warehouseman, driving a forklift, stocking gear, and conducting inventories. I have worked in the information technology field as a programmer, database administrator, network engineer, and enterprise architect. Finally, I have landed in my current position as a pastor.

In each of these professions, God has taught me something I can use in my pastoral role. I have had experiences in my travels around the world and living the life of a “normal” person before going into the ministry. This helps me understand the quandaries someone else is experiencing.

Coming to the ministry only occurred, though, as my mind was renewed through my willingness to submit to God’s will. Understanding his will only came as I studied his Word and built my relationship with him. This is the renewing of the mind the Apostle Paul is talking about. As we become closer to God, focusing on him, our mind becomes clearer. We then see where he wants us to be and what he wants us to do. It takes time and a willingness to submit to God.

I pray we all submit to God. I pray we seek to build our relationship with him. I pray each one of us will allow God to renew our mind and focus on discerning his will for our lives. Submit to God. Build your relationship with him. Allow God to renew your mind. Discern his will for your life.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Narrow Miss

Have you ever had a close call? Have you narrowly escaped a tragic incident? Were you nearly in an auto accident but missed by a hair? What were your thoughts afterward? Did you breathe a sigh of relief? Did you shout with joy? Or were you angry? Did you give thanks to God?

As we travel through this life, we will have close calls. We may be at the wrong place at the wrong time and yet just miss being caught in a catastrophe. We may miss being in an auto accident by an eyelash. We may have missed a bad situation without even knowing it.

I have experienced someone pulling out in front of me, suddenly breaking hard, and cutting me off making a lane change. I have even nearly attempted a lane change with someone next me. Accidents happen. Thankfully, in these cases, I was able to avoid one. I can say my heart rate jumped in each case. In some of them, I was either thinking or yelling at the other person. Not really the appropriate reaction.

There have been other times when I missed being in a bad situation without initially knowing it. For example, I missed being in a multi-car pile up on I95 because, for whatever reason, I decided to take a different route home from work. Afterward, when I heard of the accident, I thanked God that he had given me the thought of taking a different way home.

That should be our reaction—to thank God. I confess, that has not always been my reaction. But we need to remember that God is always working. He helps us narrowly escape bad situations, likely more than we know. Think back on your own life. Remember a time when you missed being in a bad situation because you had a feeling you should go a different direction or not go at all. When you remember one or more of those, give thanks to God for guiding you elsewhere.

I pray we know that God is constantly working. I pray we recognize those times when God guides away from bad situations. I pray each one of us give thanks to God for guiding us to safety. Know God is working. Recognize his intercession. Listen to God’s guidance. Give thanks to God.

Psalm 124:7-8

We have escaped like a bird 

from the snare of the fowlers; 

the snare is broken,

and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

Do What You Can

Have you experienced something seemingly going awry only to see it all work out later? Has something initially seemed so wrong, but worked out for your good later? Have you taken time to think about how that happened? Have you given credit to God?

We experience things going badly from our perspective. We wonder how this could happen to us. We get frustrated, angry, and depressed. Our minds race to find answers. We may reach out to family or friends for help in understanding. We may even cry out to God.

Our perspective is limited. Far too often we are only thinking of the here and now. We live in the moment, not able to see the future and often not looking at the past. To exacerbate our situations, we often won’t listen to advice from someone who is wiser, who has gone through some tough times, who may have the gift of foreseeing how things may play out.

Despite our circumstances, God is at work. Pharoah had commanded that ALL people of Egypt kill any newborn Hebrew males. He had made it a responsibility of every Egyptian citizen to carry out this horrible task due to his own fear. However, he did not account for God working in the background, specifically through his daughter.

Pharoah’s daughter disobeyed her father’s edict to rescue a Hebrew male child from the river. Not only that, but she allowed the child’s mother to nurse him until he was weened. She took him in as her own son and named him Moses. Little did she and her father know the child she rescued would be used by God to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt.

God works in amazing ways. We do not always see what he is doing. But just like Moses’ mother, we must do what we can do and leave the rest in God’s hands, trusting him to carry out his plan. God knows our limitations, even though he has no limitations. He will use each of us to carry out his plan if we are willing to be used by him.

I pray we all do the best we can with what we know and have. I pray we trust God to carry out his plan. I pray each one of us will submit to being used by God and trust him in all situations. Do what you can do. Trust God. Trust God’s plan. Turn to him. Spend time in prayer. Discern what God would have you do.

Exodus 2:5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it.

Resilience

What does it mean to be oppressed? What does it mean to be enslaved? Why do people oppress and enslave others? Have you considered the why behind the action? Have you considered why you do the things you do?

Oppression and slavery have been in existence for thousands of years. Though we may not know exactly when it started, we know as far back as the Israelites being enslaved in Egypt. But just because they have existed does not mean they are good or right.

When we read of the decision by Pharaoh to oppress and enslave the Israelites, it was done out of fear. He was afraid that they would continue to multiply and overpower the Egyptians or join their enemies against them. Fear can drive us to do things that simply do not make sense.

Yet, Pharaoh could not hold down the Israelites. As they continued to multiply, he gave another edict, which instructed the midwives to kill all newborn boys. When that didn’t work, he commanded all Egyptians to do so. Still, Pharaoh’s plan was thwarted.

When we find ourselves being oppressed, we can remember and hold onto the resilience of the Israelites. We can also continue in faith, believing God will act when the time is in accordance with his plan. If we look around ourselves with opened eyes, we will see God working, just as he did with the Israelites, causing them to multiply and grow as a nation. Even if we do not see God working, we can rest assured that he is.

I pray we all trust God in all situations. I pray we hold on to the same resilience the Israelites demonstrated. I pray we open our eyes and see God working all around us, especially if we are oppressed. Trust God. Know he will act according to his plan. Open your eyes and see God working. Be resilient. Hold on to your faith.

Exodus 1:13-14 The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites, and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them.

Wonderful Crumbs

Have you ever begged for something? Have you been desperate enough to set your pride aside to ask a stranger to help? Have you been without hope, only to find a glimmer of it from an unexpected source?

I suspect most of us have no inclination to beg. Our pride tells us to work for it ourselves, to provide for our own needs. Most of us are not looking for handouts, least of which from a stranger. No, we may be willing to die rather than beg.

That is our mindset until it becomes a life and death decision for our child. A woman came to Jesus because her daughter was being tormented by a demon. She feared for the life of her child. She saw no one who could help her…other than Jesus. So, she went to Him and asked for the crumbs from the table.

We do not talk much about demons these days. We explain away potential demonic activity with science and theories. Still, we experience life threatening health issues. Whether demonic or science, we may find there is nowhere to turn for help. We may find ourselves without hope.

Jesus provides us with the hope we need. He still performs miracles. He may not perform a miracle for us. He decides when to do so. But He still gives us hope. There is hope of salvation. There is hope of eternal life spent with Him. There is hope for our children, our community, and our world.

I pray we all turn to Jesus for our hope. I pray we accept the hope He provides. I pray each one of us trust in the hope and salvation only Jesus can give us. Turn to Jesus in all situations. Set aside your pride. Believe Jesus still performs miracles. Put your hope in Him. Trust Him for your salvation.

Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Humble Heart

Have you been in deep distress thinking there was no way out and no one to turn to for help? If so, what did you do, where did you turn? Did you turn to a family member? Did you turn to a friend? Did you turn to God? Did you cry out to God in anguish?

When we experience devastation, we long for someone to help. When we are distressed to the point of breaking, we hope for a miracle. When all others have failed, we finally turn to God out of desperation. Thankfully, God is always with us and waiting for our turning to him.

Jesus is approached by someone who is despised. Notice she is a Canaanite. The Jews despised the Canaanites. She was considered unclean because of her heritage. In the patriarchal society, she was considered to be a lesser being because of her gender. Neither of those imposed viewpoints of her stopped her from coming to Jesus.

She has reached the end of her rope. She could not turn to the Rabbi’s because she was not a Jew. The doctors or magicians of her time could not help her. She was desperately seeking someone who could expel the demon from her daughter, who also would have been despised by the Jews. She cried out to Jesus in desperation, likely with tears streaming down her face.

When we are distraught, even if we have not maintained a good relationship with God, we can cry out to him. But we must remember, our cry must be from the heart. We must come in submission, recognizing his power. We must be willing to bow before a Holy God with humble hearts. This woman did so and received an answer from Jesus. If we come with humble hearts in total submission to God, we, too, will receive an answer from him.

I pray we all humble ourselves before God. I pray we cry out to God with a humble heart. I pray each one of us will submit to him, not just when we are desperate, but every day of our lives. Humble yourself before God. Cry out to God. Humbly submit to God each day. Trust God to provide what you need.

Matthew 15:22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.”

Defiled

Was being defiled mean to you? Do you have horrible thoughts running through your mind? Have you contemplated what it means to defile yourself? Have you at least thought about thinking about it? Are you afraid to think about it?

When we think of someone being defiled today, horrible things run our minds. Most of them are physical in nature. We do not like the images that come to our mind, nor do we want to spend time thinking about them. Rightfully so.

Yet, that is not how Jesus defined being defiled. We must remember, Jesus turned the world upside down. He turned the human way of thinking on its head. Jesus says it is what comes out of our mouth that defiles us. Spend some time thinking about what you have said yesterday, this week, this month, over the past year.

Why is it what comes out of our mouths? Because it reveals our hearts. It is not simply the use of curse words, though that is not good either. It is slandering someone else, speaking badly about them while not knowing their entire situation. We often see posts on social media on this very thing, but most people only picture the person who is struggling as themselves or someone they are very close to. When it should apply to someone they do not like, they cast aside any thought of pausing to consider what that person may be going through.

What does this mean for us? Our hearts are not in sync with Jesus. We are not showing the same grace He showed. We must remember that Jesus was likely appalled at both the woman caught in adultery (and her partner), and the crowd who brought her to Him. He chastised the crowd by using a parable that caused them to think and refused to condemn the woman. Bottom line, Jesus demonstrated the grace of God. The same grace He sheds on us.

I pray we all seek to demonstrate the same grace Jesus did. I pray we seek to get our hearts in sync with Jesus’ heart. I pray each one of us spend time thinking about what defiles us. Show grace to others. Seek to be in sync with Jesus. Know how Jesus defines defilement. Ask Jesus to help clean your heart.

Matthew 15:10-11 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.”

Irrevocable

Are you seeking something solid to hold on to? Do you wish you could find something that will never go away? Do you long for some permanency in your life? Are you looking for something that is unchanging? Do you know you can have it?

We don’t really like change. We want things to remain the same forever…as long as things are good. We like our routines. We do things the same way every day. It makes us comfortable. Then…something happens that throws them into disarray.

Yet, we know the only thing constant is change. Each day is a new day. Sometimes, we look forward to there being a new day, a fresh start. Those are the days we hope for something better after having had a bad day. We look forward to change when something bad has happened.

There are some things that will not change. When God gifts us with something, he does not take it back. The gift is ours to keep. It may be a gift of strength, courage, quick wit, quick learning, intelligence, understanding, and many more. When God gives us gifts for our lives, he gives them to us for the length of our lives.

God also calls us. He may call us to ministry, volunteering to help others, teaching, serving, leading, coordinating, comforting, and many other callings. God doesn’t stop calling us. He continues to invite us to join him in carrying out the work he has planned.

We may feel a tug in a specific direction. That is God calling. We may recognize specific talents or skills we have. Those are God’s gifts. What are we to do? Answer God’s calling using the gifts he has blessed us with. When we do, we find ourselves where we are supposed to be doing the things we are supposed to do.

I pray we all recognize the gifts God has blessed us with. I pray we answer God’s call for our lives. I pray each one of us will use our gifts to work along with God and find ourselves satisfied. Recognize your gifts. Answer God’s call. Be where you are supposed to be. Do what you are supposed to do. Be satisfied. Trust God’s plan.

Romans 11:34 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

No Rejection

Have you been rejected? Has an entire group of people you belong to been rejected? Were you baffled, hurt, distraught at the rejection? Did you seek a means of reconciliation? Do you know there is someone who accepts you? Have you sought to be accepted by God?

We may be rejected by some people. We may be a part of a group that is rejected and despised. This world has many people who believe they are above others and reject those they believe are below them. Discrimination is alive and well in this world.

Discrimination comes in many forms. Some discriminate based on race. Some based on nationality. Some based on gender. Some based on sexual preference. There is discrimination between those living in the city versus those who live in rural areas. Doctors versus nurses. School versus school. It is all based on our personal background and our pride, our self-centeredness.

In some places, it is said that God has rejected Israel. It is a false belief and false statement. He has not rejected them but uses non-Israelites as a means to draw them to him. God’s desire is to save the entire world. He desires that every person accept his offer of salvation and hope.

We, Christians, should not look down at Israelites as people who have failed to accept Jesus. Instead, we should look at them as people who God used to bring salvation and hope to all of us through his Son, Jesus Christ. Not only that, but we are to work for God to spread his message of salvation to all people. God is willing and actively seeking to redeem everyone, including Israel.

I pray we all give thanks for how God has worked through Israel. I pray we pray for Israel’s acceptance of Jesus as Messiah. I pray each one of us will work alongside God to tell others about Jesus. Do not fear rejection. Know that God accepts you. Do not discriminate. Tell others about Jesus. See others as He sees them.

Romans 11:1-2a I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.