"If We Are The Body" - Casting Crown
There are people who show up to church and feel disconnected by the clicks that are formed by our own self indulgences. We tend to ostracize those who are socially or personally different than us. Fellowship is not about status, race or popularity. Fellowship is about glorifying God and edifying one another. It is very easy to socialize with the same people every Sunday. How about reaching out to those that are standing alone, those that are a bit awkward socially. They are just as important as the rest of you. Fellowship with them. Let them know you care about what they have to say. Love them as Christ loves you!
The Bible says, " 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 unpresentable 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." 1 Corinthians 12:22-27 (NIV)
Take a moment to really see & hear this message. . .
We go to church every Sunday to learn about God. We read the bible to gain knowledge and wisdom. We invest time with other Christians. . . but what about the lost souls outside the church doors? God calls us to "Go! and make disciples of all nations." Jesus wants us to reach out, to provide comfort, and to give hope to the lost.
It is good to have a relationship with God- it is good to have great bible knowledge- but what about expressing it? What about sharing it to those who need it most?
Listen to what Jesus is saying to you. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’" Matthew 25:34-40 (NIV)
Here is a challenge for you:
Stop sitting in the same assigned seat or pew. Stop gathering with the same people. Search out someone new. Sit next to someone who is sitting alone. Search out someone after church who is lost in the crowd. Invest time with them- show them they are special and that you care about them!
"Love the unlovely. Care for the unfortunate. Yes, you may say, "They don't live up to my standards." Without God's grace, we don't live up to His standards. Through Jesus Christ, only because of Him, can we have complete fellowship with God." ~HLJ
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There are people who show up to church and feel disconnected by the clicks that are formed by our own self indulgences. We tend to ostracize those who are socially or personally different than us. Fellowship is not about status, race or popularity. Fellowship is about glorifying God and edifying one another. It is very easy to socialize with the same people every Sunday. How about reaching out to those that are standing alone, those that are a bit awkward socially. They are just as important as the rest of you. Fellowship with them. Let them know you care about what they have to say. Love them as Christ loves you!
The Bible says, " 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 unpresentable 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." 1 Corinthians 12:22-27 (NIV)
Take a moment to really see & hear this message. . .
We go to church every Sunday to learn about God. We read the bible to gain knowledge and wisdom. We invest time with other Christians. . . but what about the lost souls outside the church doors? God calls us to "Go! and make disciples of all nations." Jesus wants us to reach out, to provide comfort, and to give hope to the lost.
It is good to have a relationship with God- it is good to have great bible knowledge- but what about expressing it? What about sharing it to those who need it most?
Listen to what Jesus is saying to you. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’" Matthew 25:34-40 (NIV)
Here is a challenge for you:
Stop sitting in the same assigned seat or pew. Stop gathering with the same people. Search out someone new. Sit next to someone who is sitting alone. Search out someone after church who is lost in the crowd. Invest time with them- show them they are special and that you care about them!
"Love the unlovely. Care for the unfortunate. Yes, you may say, "They don't live up to my standards." Without God's grace, we don't live up to His standards. Through Jesus Christ, only because of Him, can we have complete fellowship with God." ~HLJ
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3 comments:
Thank you for this post and your challenge! We all as the body of Christ do need to reach out to each other. It's too easy to be comfortable in our own little pew but we do need to share God's love with others.
conarnold,
Praise God for your sensitive heart! May God bless you with new relationships around you.
In His Love.
love this song and the message!
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