Love Your Body
A couple of weeks ago, I was involved in an online discussion concerning speaking in other tongues. The "debate" inspired me to study 1 Corintians 12-14. When I got to chapter 13, the Lord began dealing with me about the proper motivation behind using spiritual gifts. While the context involves a corporate church setting, it quickly became apparent there were many other applications.
The Holy Spirit emphasized the need to operate in a spirit of love. It listed the different attributes and characteristics of true love. Sadly, many of the characteristics were foreign to me. Although they were near my mind, they were far from my heart. Since I first accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, I've always had a genuine desire to see souls saved and lives changed by the power of God. However, in my spiritual immaturity, I forgot how God has many others who feel the same way.
Oftentimes, we believe that WE are the only individual whom God has spoken to. Like Elijah, we feel as though we're the only prophet in the land. This attitude actually causes division as well as pride as we begin focusing more and more on ourselves and our own ministries. We feel like we're the most important thing in the kingdom of God. We forget that we're only one member of a much greater body.
As the Holy Spirit dealt with me, I saw the selfishness behind many of my actions. I remembered all the times I prayed, asking the Lord to "use me." But why ME? Why not someone else? Jesus commaned His disciples to pray that the Lord of the harvest send forth laborers out into the fields. Why should it matter which laborer gets the call? I was more concerned about myself getting in the game than the rest of the team winning! Lord help us!
I've since come to the realization that it doesn't matter about ME. There's more to the body of Christ than ME. Christ died on the cross for more people than just ME. Therefore, as it concerns minstry, the most important thing is that souls are saved and lives are gloriously changed. It doesn't matter which vessel God chooses to bring that about change. If anything, we should lift up the hands of whomever God has chosen.
We should never have the attitude that if it doesn't include us, it's not our concern. The Apostle Paul taught that we should actually esteem others better than ourselves. Furthermore, as the body of Christ, when one of us rejoices, we should all rejoice. When one member is sad, we should all mourn. True, we each have different functions and responsibilities, but we're all part of the same body.
That means that we should help one another. We should do pray for one another. We should do everything we can to make each other better. Paul taught that we should do good to all men, especially those of the household of faith. Jesus said the whole law can be summed up in one commandment- love your neighbor as yourself. So I have to ask the question, "Have you loved your body today?"
Have you done everything within your power to be a blessing to your body? Have you thanked the Lord for providing other members to help with the work load? Or maybe you've been too busy focusing on your own individual effort? Perhaps, you've gone out of your way to wash your right hand, while leaving the other one dirty?
It's time for the Body of Christ to start acting like a body. The bible says there is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God. The only thing separating us is us. Why not take a little time out right now and love your body?
The Holy Spirit emphasized the need to operate in a spirit of love. It listed the different attributes and characteristics of true love. Sadly, many of the characteristics were foreign to me. Although they were near my mind, they were far from my heart. Since I first accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, I've always had a genuine desire to see souls saved and lives changed by the power of God. However, in my spiritual immaturity, I forgot how God has many others who feel the same way.
Oftentimes, we believe that WE are the only individual whom God has spoken to. Like Elijah, we feel as though we're the only prophet in the land. This attitude actually causes division as well as pride as we begin focusing more and more on ourselves and our own ministries. We feel like we're the most important thing in the kingdom of God. We forget that we're only one member of a much greater body.
As the Holy Spirit dealt with me, I saw the selfishness behind many of my actions. I remembered all the times I prayed, asking the Lord to "use me." But why ME? Why not someone else? Jesus commaned His disciples to pray that the Lord of the harvest send forth laborers out into the fields. Why should it matter which laborer gets the call? I was more concerned about myself getting in the game than the rest of the team winning! Lord help us!
I've since come to the realization that it doesn't matter about ME. There's more to the body of Christ than ME. Christ died on the cross for more people than just ME. Therefore, as it concerns minstry, the most important thing is that souls are saved and lives are gloriously changed. It doesn't matter which vessel God chooses to bring that about change. If anything, we should lift up the hands of whomever God has chosen.
We should never have the attitude that if it doesn't include us, it's not our concern. The Apostle Paul taught that we should actually esteem others better than ourselves. Furthermore, as the body of Christ, when one of us rejoices, we should all rejoice. When one member is sad, we should all mourn. True, we each have different functions and responsibilities, but we're all part of the same body.
That means that we should help one another. We should do pray for one another. We should do everything we can to make each other better. Paul taught that we should do good to all men, especially those of the household of faith. Jesus said the whole law can be summed up in one commandment- love your neighbor as yourself. So I have to ask the question, "Have you loved your body today?"
Have you done everything within your power to be a blessing to your body? Have you thanked the Lord for providing other members to help with the work load? Or maybe you've been too busy focusing on your own individual effort? Perhaps, you've gone out of your way to wash your right hand, while leaving the other one dirty?
It's time for the Body of Christ to start acting like a body. The bible says there is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God. The only thing separating us is us. Why not take a little time out right now and love your body?
posted by Son of Man at 2:34 PM
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