Tags
Related Posts
Share This
Called to be a part of the Body
An aircraft is made of millions of individual parts. Each part has a drawing with instructions on its use, the type of material, how it should be made and how it is to be installed. As part of the design process, every part has to “earn its way” on to the aircraft. Its weight, function and location impact the airworthiness of the aircraft. Each individual part by itself is not an aircraft, but joined together, they form the aircraft.
The preceding scriptures layout the relationship of physical body parts to the whole of the person and the Apostle Paul takes this analogy and applies it to our relationship with Christ.
Both the aircraft and the person are designed for a purpose. In the case of the aircraft, the parts have to “earn their way” into the finished product, in our case, we have been predestined, by grace (God’s Riches At Christ Expense), to be the “body” of Christ. We have been purposefully crafted, unique and distinct, to be part of the body of Christ.
We have been given the gift to be part of the body….we’ve also been given the responsibility. Much like the parts that have to earn their way into the aircraft, we have roles we must fulfill as part of the body.
Let me take thsi chance to say that if you are not sure of your purpose, “seek and you will find”.
I am looking forward to the spiritual gifts class that Rob is teaching. I know a few things that I love to do but is that my purpose? Let’s all get a little closer to what God intends for our lives. Maybe we will learn a little something about ourselves that we did not know along the way.
Vern you are a man of faith. Your steadiness and faithfulness are a real example to me. You being part of the body gives me such hope. This teaching lets me see people in such a positive light. I see people as precious and valuable because they are uniquely designed by God.
Thanks Candy for the plug about the Spiritual gift class.
Vern, thanks for your thoughts on todays verse.
“Each part has a drawing with instructions on its use, the type of material, how it should be made and how it is to be installed.” Great insight into how unique God has designed each of us for His use as a part of the body of Christ. Interesting is it not that inanimate objects never complain, worry, or feel jealous about how they were made or how they are to function. We can not say the same for our human bodies. We seem to want to change ourselves all the time. Sometimes in positive ways but often in harmful or self destroying ways. Stop and think about it right now. How many of us can find something about our bodies that we don’t like? Maybe God loves us perfectly just as we are? Even if we have something wrong, a physical flaw, or an injury or a disease, maybe God still loves us perfectly? What about all that “stuff” in our lives that keep us from a Holy God? Maybe thats what the cross was all about? Maybe God wants to make us Holy and some day God will make us perfect in Him? No hurts, no pain, no flaws, sickness, or disease, just the reflection of Jesus and His Glory; maybe that is Heaven? Just thinking…
Vern,
Thanks. Man, I love aeronautics. Winged or rocket, it doesn’t matter. I have a very nice Lockheed L-1011 Tri-Star model on my desk. Thirty-two years at DL, most of that building software, I sometimes got to go to the shops, line maintenance and hangar, and I watched how mechanics and technicians worked. It gave me a real appreciation for the care that goes into getting a million parts all in the air at the same time and keeping them flying in close formation.
It only takes one bad part or one faulty installation.
The Saturn V that sent Americans to the moon had 3 million parts. The Apollo 13 command module that the Saturn V heaved at the moon had one tiny electrical spark, and Ron Howard had a movie. A weak seal and cold weather caused Challenger to fail 73 seconds into its flight.
So doesn’t it seem we take the care and feeding of our church’s “body parts” (that’d be you and me) too casually sometimes? Like Jim said, metal parts don’t complain or worry, or get feelings hurt. They also don’t get mad at other parts or the manufacturer and decide to leave the aircraft. All the more reason to love each other this Sunday when we come in for a “maintenance visit.”
Thank you Vern and everyone that replied. I wasn’t able to get in early this morning. Maybe God just wanted me to see the whole picture that each of you shared. Not only did God make each of you but each of you put together a great picture of how God is and what the true church is like. Each part is individual but made whole when put together.