Protecting One Another!

Even with icy conditions remaining I still wanted to get in a good walk yesterday morning, and though I did not walk as far as my usual Tuesday walks, I still got a good workout of thirteen miles. Due to the slick conditions I had to watch my step. There were encounters with packed snow and spots of black ice that would sometimes take me by surprise. However, without me giving it a thought, MY BODY RESPONDED AUTOMATICALLY to counter my going out of balance and keep me from falling. When my feet would slip, my arms would very NATURALLY extend up and out and around, amazingly helping me remain upright.

As my walk continued I pondered how this body God wondrously created works so well and then thought of the Lord's Body (the church) and how God's desire is for it to function in much the same manner as my physical body. When a part of the Spiritual Body begins to slip, shouldn't it be a very NATURAL response for other parts of the body to do what they can to counterbalance and protect the whole? Just like the quick automatic reactions of the physical body, should it have to be given much thought? How about arms NATURALLY reaching out and embracing, lifting up, holding up, and encouraging other members of the BODY to press on in the Lord?

Where Paul drew a parallel between the physical body and the Spiritual Body in his letter to the church at Corinth we read. . .
"(21) The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' (22) On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, (23) and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, (24) which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, (25) that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may HAVE THE SAME CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. (26) If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (27) Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." ( 1 Corinthians 12:21-27 ESV)

And in his letter to the church at Rome Paul exhorted. . .
"(4) For as in one body we have MANY MEMBERS, and the members do not all have the same function, (5) so we, though many, are ONE BODY in Christ, and INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER." ( Romans 12:4-5 ESV)

This is the Will of God for the Body of Christ, but unfortunately all the members don't always respond in this manner. Nevertheless, let us be a part of the Body that NATURALLY does, because our own right actions and responses can have a dynamic influence on the rest of the Body. As we lovingly and NATURALLY reveal genuine concern and interest in each other, we can help maintain balance and protect one another.

Have a great day SERVING TO MAINTAIN BALANCE WITHIN THE BODY!
Carl

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