"One Body"

We see them week in and week out. Some are well dressed, others are very casual. They come from other towns and in our own city. Some are eager, others are bored. There are those that are cynical and others are expecting. Some run on time while others seem not to be bothered about being late. There are the old and the young. Some are beaming with joy while others frown and don't really want to be bothered. They come with families while some come alone. Who are all these people? They gather together on the first day of the week in an assembly to pay their love and respect for their heavenly Father. But not all of them...

At different times there are different moods and different reasons. Some are just social and think it is the social thing to do. Some are there because parents make them be there. Others come because it is expected or they think it is something their children need. Sometimes people assemble to see that 'special' girl or boy. Others simply feel guilty for not being there so they show up. I guess at one time or the other, we have all shared in one of these.

Why do you assemble with the saints? Is it just a matter of 'going to church' or is there a deeper, more meaningful reason? What is so unique about all this is we do it together as the body of Christ! It's one body. We sing as Christ's body. We pray as Christ's body while one shapes our prayers for us. We listen to God's message as spoken through His servant as Christ's body. We take the Supper as Christ's body. It's not about symbols but showing us His presence. That Supper proclaims Jesus our Lord speaking, "Jesus is here in our midst." Our monies are collected to serve needs and honorable debts as one body in Christ. Some days we are blessed by seeing a trusting, repentant heart baptized into union with Christ adding them to His body. When this happens, we see the glorious gospels power to draw people to the Lord and Savior and our eyes fill with tears of joy! At other times a part of Christ's body responds out of a helplessness they cannot fulfill without Christ's body working on their behalf.

In all this, it is about ONE BODY, CHRIST'S BODY! He is our Leader, our Lord and Sustainer and He has called each one to Himself through His sacrifice. Our attachment to one another is through Jesus and His body. Sunday's coming...