Indispensable

"On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.."

(1 Corinthians 12:22)

God didn't create us with many 'spare parts.'  Oh sure, if pressed, we can make do without a hand, or arm, or foot... heck, even with one less kidney!  But basically, we need ALL our body parts if we're going to function at our best - the way God intended.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul is reminding the beloved community in Corinth that no one is more "valuable" than another in the Body of Christ.  We all have gifts, roles & a place designed by God.  All are vital!  Evidently, some of the Corinthians were having problems with this.  Which got me thinking... have we changed all that much?  Despite our best intentions, I think it's human nature to want to "size people up."  We sort people out by how "useful" they appear to be to us.  Oh, we may never admit it to anyone... but I daresay we do it nonetheless.

So today's reading challenged me to think about these people (especially in the church) that seem to be the most "high maintenance."  The ones who push our buttons, seem to need the most help, or simply don't seem to do much at all!  What would it mean to begin thinking of them as INDISPENSABLE?  We may not know exactly why God has deemed them indispensable - but it's not our job to figure that out.  Our job is to love them... treasure them... encourage them... and honor them.

Who knows... maybe someone will be led to do the same to us!

Bearing With One Another

[From 8/10/09]

"I... beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

(Ephesians 4:1-3)

Some people can be quite annoying (can I get an "Amen!"?). All of us have various individuals in our lives that just seem to "rub us the wrong way." It happens to the best of us (heck, WE may even be 'the annoying one' to a few others!).

In the 4th chapter of Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus, we are encouraged to exercise patience, humility & gentleness as we "bear with one another in love." It's easy to get "frustrated with one another"... or "ticked off at one another"... heck, I've even gotten "royally peeved at one another" from time to time. It happens. But God calls us to something greater. God calls us to not take things so personal. To have grace for others - especially those we encounter frequently (our families, our co-workers, our church!).

[NOTE: Of course this does NOT mean we should put up with abuse. Never! I'm talking about the more "minor irritations of people.]

Why should we do this? Simply because we're supposed to be more like Jesus? Well... um... no. Jesus got quite upset at certain folks himself, if you remember (moneychangers? Pharisees? Scribes? etc.). The answer lies in verse 3: "to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." One of Jesus' big goals for his followers was UNITY. He knew the power of solidarity. But solidarity has to be worked at... it doesn't come easily.

PRAYER: Lord God, give me patience & grace for others... help me to truly bear with them, whenever I'm irritated and annoyed. Remind me of the infinite patience you have for me! AMEN.

Reconciliation

[From May 14th]

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

(2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Reconciliation. It presupposes two people have grown apart. Painfully. Damage has occurred. Reconciliation brings healing and restoration. That's god's "BIG PICTURE." Humankind has grown apart from God because of how we've grown apart from each other. No amount of "Turn from your sin" messages!" from the prophets had made a significant difference. We may have wanted to change, but often found ourselves sinking back into sin.

So God sent Jesus. To love. To live. To show us how we were created to relate to each other. And he came to forgive. To pardon. To reconcile. Everyone. The World. To Himself.

But that's not all. Now we're called to carry the torch. To share "the ministry of reconciliation" with others. Not only reonciliation with God, but also with one another. They go hand in hand. How might my day (life?) change if I made reocnicliation a priority? How about yours?

3 Musketeers

[From May 5, 2009]

"If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it."

(1 Corinthians 12:26)

The 3 Musketeers had a famous slogan: "All for one and one for all!" (at least I think it was from them!). They were a team. Together. What affected one affected all. Good or bad... they were in it together.

The church has a lot to learn from that. When Jesus was coming to the end of his time on earth, he prayed that his disciples (and all followers) might be ONE. In the time that has transpired since that prayer, we seem to have gone in the opposite direction. We've divided, split, fought, debated & splintered the Body of Christ. Oh sure, there very well may have been "good reasons" to do so at the time... but the results are still the same: division... less-than-unity.

Paul reminds us here in 1 Corinthians 12 that we are to rejoice whenever one among us is honored and suffer whenever one of us suffers. We need to stop competing with one another. Stop rejoicing when one who doesn't share our "theological persuasion" falls. Instead, whenever a pastor, church, denomination, or individual does well for the Kingdom, we should all rejoice! and pray! All the time!

May it be so with me. AMEN.

"Brother, Saul!"

[From 4/4/09]

"So Ananaias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me...'"

(Acts 9:17)

What happens when the church's "Enemy No.1" suddenly has a conversion experience and joins the Jesus Movement - a movement he'd previously been vehemently persecuting? Well, few people trust him, that's what! Seriously, it took Barnabus' intercession to get the apostles to welcome Saul - who went on to do amazing work in Damascus & Jerusalem for the Believers.

Of course we know now that Saul (Paul!) would become arguably the most influential person in the NT (next to the Trinity, of course!). But in the beginning, all he had was his persecuting reputation. Which makes it even more interesting when we look at Ananias' story. When Saul was blinded by God on the road to Damascus, God appeared to Ananias and instructed him to go and minister to Saul. Of course he was reluctant, but God assured him this was all part of God's divine plan. So Ananias went, bringing words of grace and healing. The rest is history, as they say.

But Ananias brought something else to Saul. Something quite possibly even more powerful than physical healing. He brought a sincere welcome. Despite Saul's reputation, Ananias trusted God's instructions implicitly, and greeted the former rogue as "Brother Saul." BROTHER SAUL! It's easy to overlook just how amazing that greeting actually is. Ananias called this one who had persecuted, arrested, imprisoned & even witnessed public executions of Christians, 'Brother!' Wow. What a welcome! What healing that one word must have brought.

Too often we think in terms of "us vs. them." Christians vs. Non-Christians. Our denomination vs. other denominations. Our theological slant vs. other theological slants. Our church vs. other churches. We're great at separating. Not so great at uniting. But we, as the church... as the Body of Christ... were created for UNITY, not segregation.

How can I be an ambassador of "Brotherhood" (and "sisterhood"!)? How can I extend the grace & welcome to people who traditionally don't expect to be welcomed? Ah, that's the "Jesus part," isn't it!?!?

PRAYER: Thank you for calling me into communion & community with Your children all over the world, Lord. Help me to extend the hand and heart of grace to all. AMEN.

Body Parts

[From Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009]

"But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior members, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another."

(I Corinthians 12:24b-25)

Paul talks about the Church as a body - a body with many parts ("members"). Each part is essential. Each needs to exercise the gifts they've been given for the body to work at its optimum. But Paul recognizes there are some "high profile" parts: eyes, hands, feet, etc. Parts that everyone sees and interacts with and knows. That may lead some to think of themselves as "inferior." But no! We "clothe" our lesser parts to give them more dignity and honor... something the more "high profile" parts don't need. Why? Paul says: "THAT THERE MAY BE NO DISSENSION WITHIN THE BODY... and everyone would have the SAME CARE for one another."

Which got me thinking about the church I'm a part of (recognizing we're just one portion of the overall Body of Christ). There are definitely "high profile" parts - none more than pastor! But if I follow Paul's logic, then I'm not the one who needs honor and accolades. I need to work at giving props to those "behind the scenes" folks whose gifts are just as crucial to the working of the body. It's not about glory and honor - it's about caring for each other!

PRAYER: You know, O God, how I loathe the expression, "It's all about me!" I pray that as a leader I will never get to the point where church, worship, faith and/or discipleship is all about me. Help me foster a sense of community where all feel honored & valued. AMEN.

From Enemy to Family

"On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. On that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my peopole, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage.'"
(Isaiah 19:23-25)

This is one of those amazing passages I "stumble upon" every so often in Scripture. Tucked away at the end of chapter 19, when the first 2/3 of the chapter deal with Egypt's condemnation & impending punishment... comes quite a turn of events. In verse 19, we're told there will be an altar to God in Egypt that will serve as a witness to the LORD! "The LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians and the Egyptians will know the LORD..." (v.21). A few verses later we read about a unique highway between Egypt & Assyria - two of Israel's toughest enemies over the years. Those great nations will intermingle... and Israel will become a BLESSING to both... with all uniting in worship & reverence to the LORD.

Assyria is modern-day Iraq. Given the current political situation between the US and Iraq, it's not hard to connect this passage to our situation today. Over the weekend, I watched the new film "Traitor," a story about an undercover US spy who's Muslim (played by Don Cheadle), infiltrating a radical Muslim terrorist organization. Numerous times in the film, "both sides" (the US and the radical terrorist org) talk about fighting "the war" between them. There is a palpable sense of warlike situations all over the world today. But what an amazing vision presented here in Isaiah! Three major nations will somehow be united in worship. Nations whose geography, religion, & history had separated them - now come together under God. And God calls each of them special & beloved. Amazing! Israel will be the catalyst for blessing.

How might God use our country to bring a blessing to the world? Or maybe we're the "Assyrians" or "Egyptians" who will be brought back into a genuine relationship with God? To me, it doesn't matter. What matters is knowing that God is working for unity in the world... and God has a unique relationship with ALL people - even those we deem as "enemies." How cool that God sees us all as his friends & his children!

PRAYER: You are amazing, Lord. Pull me into alignment with Your kingdom and your vision for the world. AMEN.

Lions, Tigers & Bears (oh my!)

[NOTE: THIS WAS MY DEVOTION FOR 9/13/08]

"The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling togehter, and a little child shall lead them..."

(Isaiah 11:6)

Ah yes, Isaiah's "peacable kingdom" imagery. One of the more memorable passages in the Old Testament. All sorts of natural enemies are living together in peace: wolves/lambs... leopards/baby goats...calves/lions... cows/bears... lions/oxen... children/snakes. "They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (v.9).

This is more than a "heavenly petting zoo" where all the critters have been spayed, neutered, defanged & declawed (and quite possibly tranquilized!). This is not a superimposed "cease fire" where the animals are forbidden to "act out" their aggressions. This is a complete REORIENTATION! Those who had been natural enemies (predator/prey relationships) no longer are. Their basic needs are met and their "culture" has changed. And a little child shall lead them.

As Christians, we see Jesus as "the little child," born in a lowly Bethlehem manger, as the One to usher in this new era of existence. The "Prince of Peace" comes to dissolve the human boundaries, prejudices, fears & tensions we've erected between us. We are called to envision (and work toward!) a time when everyone will dwell together in peace & security. Is this a "pipe dream"? An impossibility? Something that can never hapen? Some may surely think so. But I have to believe that it can happen. I have to be the one to start, however. I can't wait for others to change their attitudes toward me. I must seek to be a "peacable kingdom kind of guy." Will I see this vision come to pass? Who knows. That's not the point. The point is God's call towards this. Period.

PRAYER: Some things just seem so unlikely, Lord. Like everyone in this world living together in peace. And yet, your desire is for just that. Help me to not only believe that to be true... but have my actions bear out that belief! AMEN.