1 Corinthians 12:12-26
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slavesd or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
A beautiful young woman sat with me last week to say she Loves God - just not the Church in its judgments. This is purely what we have turned from concerning personal growth to just plain ol Judgment. The Churches in her past might not be what God asks of her, yet Jesus is Living in this Church doing the good work of His Church - in looking to the Bible and proclaiming Jesus as Lord - is offering the Salvation of Jesus.
It's acceptable to praise God in belief and prayer - why do we feel we can offer Judgment on a Church left behind?
Life offers us such an interesting walk. One person wants to hear from us and our opinion. And we treat them gently, but not to coddle them. Or to be without a lack of humility.
The next person wants to belittle us - and will we blindly accept that judgement and create more disharmony or we will find a way to make something positive.
Jesus was Yeshua - a name very similar to Joshua. healing the Exodus gap - finding our balance in what pleases Jesus.
We are so used to a new idea of our determination of good and evil. Like Eve. And really the Bible says we live by determination of the way we will live. Our decisions govern our actions. This is something we adapt to - our decisions govern - ourselves!
One of my favorite Bible Studies - Walk Across the Room - is letting people know the richness of God's love. The best friend finally told - I'm going to Heaven - I want you there with me.
Look to find what is good.
This is a pendulum of right and wrong. We are so applaudable in this generation - most of the Church going population has changed denominations looking for Church to grow their God given gifts and talents - this is wonderful in thoughtful Spiritual growth. Personal and determined Spiritual maturity.
And this creates in us an addendum falling far from pleasing Father God. Just as we change Churches, we hear again and again - joining chorus with the non-Church attending - we Love Father God - just not this particular Church. Judgment. The Body of Christ will always have various spiritual abilities and varieties of service. The foot will not say to the ear - there is no need.
We work out our personal salvation with serious emotion and internal reflection.
Our Journey is Growth finding the Bible believing Church and Jesus as Lord proclaiming Church regularly feeds and encourages the only part of us continuing - soul.
What is not our gift or talent does not mean this is not gift or talent of the Body of Christ.
One Church focuses on classes of wellness. Divorce recovery. Wellness support. Parenting help. Addiction recovery.
Another Church focuses on Bible Study and Youth Group. Acts of Service in the Community like Meals on Wheels and Support for the home-bound and aged. Hospital visitation.
Another Church focuses on all types of Community Outreach. Apartment Dwellers, Freedom from the Sex Trade and Trafficking, Pro-Life and Pregnancy Assistance. Foster Children.
Another Church brings in the athletic with volleyball courts, Disc Golf on the Church lawn, amazing Pumpkin Patches involving the community - reaching to the unchurched. Easter Egg Pageantry.
Another Church acts more like a Civil Theater with Broadway Musical Talents - reaching a new level of community.
This is the Broad reaching Church of Jesus Christ !!!
We know, if we study Loving Jesus - That God Almighty opens His willing arms to become our sin - dying for us - a gift we can never earn. We can never earn this - we can besmirch this - and we must never take His Grace as our due.
We need another image of Jesus for This Century.
Our Living Jesus - our Hero - Opens His Arms In Victory.
Jesus goes where human beings fail to go. Jesus sits where a woman is is openly humiliated. Jesus allows the broken hearted to Love even His Feet. Jesus accepts the foreigner who goes to Him in humility.
We seem to forget.
Jesus is God sized. Jesus wants to save - The World.
Who can save the World? Only God. Only a Father would do what God is willing to do.
May God bless us, in Jesus, all of us. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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