Honestly!

Honestly now, can we believe the way some people treat others? We look at the world around us and see people being abused and used and slighted and deceived. The saddest thing, however, is when that is seen taking place within the church.

The church is described as the body of Christ; Christ being the head ( Ephesians 1:22-23) with the members belonging to each other ( Romans 12:5). Since this is the case how are we to act toward one another? Our difficulty at times is not so much with our acknowledgment of the authority of Christ as it is the importance of a proper relationship with the rest of His body. Some even appear to think they can have a relationship with Christ without having one with His body, the church. Physically speaking that would seem to indicate an amputation has taken place and in turn would also signify a lack of proper connection to the Head.

Note one aspect of the relationship as noted by Paul to the church at Ephesus.
“Therefore, having put away falsehood, LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK THE TRUTH with his neighbor, for WE ARE MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER.” ( Ephesians 4:25
ESV)

Consider the physical body. If danger is seen, are the eyes going to lie and let the feet walk on into it? And if the feet sense they are stepping onto unstable ground, are they going to lie to the eyes that might think it looks clear, allowing them to be erroneously confident regarding the way? The various senses of our physical body WORK TOGETHER for the benefit and safety of the WHOLE body. Should it not be the same within the spiritual body of Christ? There is no room for deception and falsehood within the body of Christ. Instead, truth and love are to be hallmarks of the relationship. There is to be continued MUTUAL benefit and edification. As the physical body shares equal concern for each of its parts, so it is to be within the church.

To the church at Thessalonica, Paul exhorted…
“And we urge you, brothers, ADMONISH the idle, ENCOURAGE the fainthearted, HELP the weak, BE PATIENT with them all.” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV)

Whether it be the painful sensation of stubbing our toe or the comforting feeling of sitting in a soft chair, our head is aware of what is going on and the rest of our body responds accordingly as well. Jesus made it clear that what we do (or don’t do) to others is the same as doing (or not doing) it unto Him! ( Matthew 25:34-45) May we keep in view the WHOLE body picture in a way that our involvement in MUTUAL care will produce MUTUAL benefit to the glory and pleasure of Christ Who is the Head.

Have a great day RELATING RIGHTEOUSLY TO ONE ANOTHER!
Carl

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