The Body Of Christ

Unity In the Body Of Christ

This is one area that God has really spoken to us over the past few years, as we have reached out to integrate into the Church here.  There is nothing magical about it, the church here has problems just like any other church, but God didn’t call us to love and work with a perfect church.  Just as he loved us even in our state of imperfection he calls us to do the same. He doesn’t call us to fix them first and then love them, but just to love them.  Yet even beyond loving them we need to work with them in unity.

Unity is never easy and that can be seen even on the family level.  These past two weeks the boys were off from school and we were working with them on getting along.  They often get along great, until there is something that they disagree about.  We told them multiple times these two weeks that even if you are right it is better to have fun together and get along then to prove your point.  These words later came and struck me in the face as we were working with our team through some differences of opinions.  Was I applying the same principles that I was teaching my kids to our family in Christ?

Why The Church?

I have wondered this from time to time, but God calls us to work with the church and that is enough for me.  Just this past Wednesday as I was gathering with the women of our church to study God’s word, I was reminded that it was so worth it.  We were looking at ministry and how God has placed a burden in each of our hearts to serve him.  We each shared where God had burdened us and prayed for each other as we all press forward.  The church is not perfect anywhere you look and working with the family of God in unity is hard work.  Yet in moments like this when we are all together despite our differences supporting each other in pray and encouragement I am reminded of the beauty that results!  It keeps us continually on our knees and often in a state of humility, but that is usually when I see best the marks of his masterpiece.

What’s Ahead

Our two weeks together were great, but went by too fast!  Joel leaves Sunday to head towards Guinea to work with our missionaries down there.  He has a lot packed into a short amount of time and we are praying that he will be a blessing to those down there during this time.