Like I have said many times before, we are constantly being shaped from seeing from the world's view to seeing from Jesus' view. One thing I think that is hard to notice for us here in the states is our consumer mentality. We treat Jesus' church like we are customers just like anywhere else. We look for the certain things in a church that fit exactly our needs. Why should that be considered wrong?
I will say that we do have to find a church that is fitting for us. But that is less of our own choosing and more of Jesus' leading. If we choose established places that have everything we are looking for, we could be missing out on what could have been. A body is not complete without all its members and that is how the true church of Jesus is supposed to be operating. What if you keep missing your true home for fear of having to contribute something to it?
1 Corinthians 12:12-20 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (ESV)
Have the mind of Christ when you are looking at His church. He was a servant of servants while here on earth. If the King over all creation can stoop down to the mentality of a slave and wash His own servant's feet, what is stopping us from treating others the same? Is a slave greater than His master?
John 13:16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (ESV)
Luke 22:27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. (ESV)
Philippians 2:7 But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (ESV)
I encourage you to honestly evaluate yourself today. How are you viewing your role as a part of the body of Christ? Are you a spectator or a customer? Or are you a servant, doing your part to fulfill the great commission in your church and out? We are supposed to be conformed to the image of Jesus; so think, which one was He?
I will say that we do have to find a church that is fitting for us. But that is less of our own choosing and more of Jesus' leading. If we choose established places that have everything we are looking for, we could be missing out on what could have been. A body is not complete without all its members and that is how the true church of Jesus is supposed to be operating. What if you keep missing your true home for fear of having to contribute something to it?
1 Corinthians 12:12-20 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (ESV)
Have the mind of Christ when you are looking at His church. He was a servant of servants while here on earth. If the King over all creation can stoop down to the mentality of a slave and wash His own servant's feet, what is stopping us from treating others the same? Is a slave greater than His master?
John 13:16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (ESV)
Luke 22:27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. (ESV)
Philippians 2:7 But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (ESV)
I encourage you to honestly evaluate yourself today. How are you viewing your role as a part of the body of Christ? Are you a spectator or a customer? Or are you a servant, doing your part to fulfill the great commission in your church and out? We are supposed to be conformed to the image of Jesus; so think, which one was He?
Comments
Post a Comment