What's the first thing that popped into your head when you read that? Was it that passage in the Bible about Christ being the head and us the parts? Was it a particular person? Was it negative or positive? Was it your church?
I think a lot of people misunderstand that phrase. I don't think I even fully understand that phrase. But let me share a few things that phrase has come to mean to me.
Firstly, the body of Christ is obviously the church. And as my church family has stressed to me over and over (and over) again, the church is not a building. The church is the people. And my church has come to mean the world to me.
In years past, Sunday morning and Wednesday nights were fun, a time to hang out with my friends. If my mom went, I went. If mom had to stay home, I stayed home. Now, it's so much more. Since Dad has died, church is where I feel safe. My church is part of my family. I'm not only grateful that they were there when I needed them, but they are still here for me even when I don't. When tragedy hit, they were there. And when my family and I struggled to get to our feet, they didn't leave! In the past, multiple men in the church have taken Jonathan hunting or just been with him for hours at a time. I can't begin to explain how much that means to my mom. I mean, the boy lives in a house full of women. He's got to learn to "man up" somehow!
Another time, my sister posted on Facebook that she needed to get away. Within minutes, someone was in the driveway ready to whisk her away.
For me personally, I miss Dad's attention. That sounds selfish, but I miss having a man in my life. A lot. And you may wonder how the church could possibly fill that gap in my life, but between them and the Lord, they have. They have literally held me when I cried and covered me with prayer when I was certain all was lost. Some weeks, my heart aches for him more than anything, and somehow they know I need that extra encouragement. Even today, the men in my church had the patience (can I get an amen?) to teach me archery. I'm just astounded. Blown away by God's faithfulness through the lives and love of my church.
Then there's the body of Christ outside my church. The body of Christ is never confined to just the names of the people on my church's membership list. Example? My homeschool group. All weekend I have gotten to spend time with them and their families. We compete, we smack talk, we wrestle, we have ridiculous conversations; but it's all encouraging. It all blesses me. I feel safe, I feel loved. I have never before realized how much I value those two things.
Another thing about the body of Christ, is the fact that through their love and care and devotion, they are pouring into my life. My cup is overflowing. And when your cup overflows, God doesn't want you to hoard it, he wants you to pour that overflow into other people. And that's the best part! Because of my pain and my trials and the love of the body, I get to love on other people that are struggling more than I am! Like 2 Corinthians 8:2 says: "Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity." God doesn't bless his children so that they can be "hoarders". He blesses them that they may bless others.
THIS is the true body of Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment