Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Purpose is Fulfilled in Relationship

“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
I Corinthians 12:21-27
 
You’re the best thing to happen since white bread…and then some!
Now only if the Pastor and the rest of the church were on board with that same understanding!
Not!
If that is your attitude – and we have all held it, if not expressed it, to some degree at one time or another – you need to re-read the text above penitently!
One of the ironies of life may just be that when we are stuck in self-centered adoration we will never (let me repeat that word in bold, caps and underlined) NEVER fully understand or live out the purposes God intended for our life.
As the above text illustrates, it is only in the context of our relationships within the Body of Christ that we can truly know and experience our full usefulness and purpose.
So come on, apart from that finger writing on the wall in the book of Daniel, you have to admit that body parts are meant to function as part of a body and not on their own!
You and I were meant to be a part of the Body of Christ.
The church helps you discover your purpose!
That’s why, in part, (no pun intended) lone rangers crash and burn.
They have disconnected from the body
What a wonderful work God has done in connecting purpose to relationship!
I need you and you need me.
And that is more than just a trite bumper sticker truism.
It is the Truth of God.
Don’t expect to be able to say “It is finished” at the end of your race if you try to go it alone.
If you’ve ‘disconnected’ from the body (for any reason), it’s time to re-connect.
If you’ve remained connected – it’s time to strengthen the cords.
Purpose is only fulfilled in relationship.
 
 

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