so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (Romans 12:5)
so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. (NLT)
We are all very familiar with the idea that we are one body in Christ. As long as we believe and are baptised in Jesus, we belong to the Church which is His body. The Holy Communion bread we partake every month also reminds us of the fact that we are one in Him.
However, have we considered the latter portion of this verse? We are individually members of one another.
It is not only that we are different parts making up one body and thus it would suffice that we each perform our individual duty without getting into each other's way.
The New Living Translation states it clearer, that we belong to each other.
What does this mean?
This means that you belong to me, and I belong to you.
It's like, I am a subset of You; and You are also a subset of Me.
It's a very special relationship.
But, have we considered this relationship in all the things that we do?
If so, then in every decision that we make, or in every thing that we do, we would first think about the consequence it will have on the other. We would think thrice before we do anything.
Is this pleasing to God?
Is this beneficial to me?
Am I hurting any members of my body?
We might even go to the extent of asking permission for doing things, because now we are not our own. We belong to Jesus, and we belong to one another. Perhaps we would not literally ask permission, but the spirit of doing so is there. If we know for sure that something will not benefit the other, we will not attempt to do it. We will never do anything to hurt a member of ourselves! For in the end, we are only hurting ourselves and all others in that body.
We would take good care of all our belongings, won't we? We would be upset to find something that belong to us missing or damaged. This is the same attitude we must have towards our brethren. If any one is sick or weak, we must take it upon ourselves to do something about it! We ought to be upset over it! Imagine, it is our leg that is sprained! Or, it is our ear that is infected!
Lord, help us to remember that we all belong to each other. Therefore do not let our actions and words hurt, but rather build each other up.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Romans 11
"Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear." (Romans 11:20)
God is a just God. He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45).
He has only one condition for salvation, that we have faith in Him. And this standard is used on both the Jews and the Gentiles. As long as we believe in Jesus, we can be reconciled with Him.
Today, in our context, it is the same, isn't it?
We see many who are born into the true church eventually leaving the church. Such grace was given them that they should be born into the true church! Yet they didn't seem to cherish it as much.
And then there are others who only later were brought back to the true church after a long search. They stand by faith now, in place of those who have left due to unbelief. And what did the Bible say?
Do not be haughty, but fear.
Yes. Do not think that we are stronger than those who have left, for who knows what tomorrow may bring? It may bring something so terrible that will strike us at our knees and we may never stand again! We never know. We can only stay close to God and rely on His help to bring us through.
To be honest, I am very fearful of the future. I wonder if I would fall. I wonder if I am already going down the wrong path. I really need all the spiritual motivation that I can get from like-minded spiritual peers. I really need to be closer and closer to God.
But at the same time, I am excited of what God would bring into my life, if I allow full control by Him. He said that He would carry me through my entire life, even to my old age!
Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.
(Isaiah 46:4)
The only problem is, how to give full control to Him?
I want to love Jesus more deeply, for He is such a wonderful Saviour to me.
God is a just God. He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45).
He has only one condition for salvation, that we have faith in Him. And this standard is used on both the Jews and the Gentiles. As long as we believe in Jesus, we can be reconciled with Him.
Today, in our context, it is the same, isn't it?
We see many who are born into the true church eventually leaving the church. Such grace was given them that they should be born into the true church! Yet they didn't seem to cherish it as much.
And then there are others who only later were brought back to the true church after a long search. They stand by faith now, in place of those who have left due to unbelief. And what did the Bible say?
Do not be haughty, but fear.
Yes. Do not think that we are stronger than those who have left, for who knows what tomorrow may bring? It may bring something so terrible that will strike us at our knees and we may never stand again! We never know. We can only stay close to God and rely on His help to bring us through.
To be honest, I am very fearful of the future. I wonder if I would fall. I wonder if I am already going down the wrong path. I really need all the spiritual motivation that I can get from like-minded spiritual peers. I really need to be closer and closer to God.
But at the same time, I am excited of what God would bring into my life, if I allow full control by Him. He said that He would carry me through my entire life, even to my old age!
Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.
(Isaiah 46:4)
The only problem is, how to give full control to Him?
I want to love Jesus more deeply, for He is such a wonderful Saviour to me.
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