1 Corinthians 12:12-13 - For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Believers have two responsibilities. The first is to worship God, and the second is to work for His kingdom. Where and how we serve is based upon our unique talents, skills and calling. But the one place where we are all expected to give ourselves is the local church.
You have chosen, according to the will of God, to become part of a local group of believers. He placed you here because He knows that you are needed. 1 Cor. 12:18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them in the body, just as He desired. You are significant to your home church.
The church is more than a community. It is an interdependent body with individual members who were created by God to function in communion with one another. We Christians, like the world at large, are a diverse group, and that means we often have to strive hard for unity. But our differences are actually something to be celebrated, because each person uniquely contributes to God's purpose. A church that is truly operating as a unit - with all its varied gifts, talents, personalities, and intellects focused toward kingdom goals - must be a beautiful sight before the Lord.
Christianity is not a spectator religion. We all have jobs to do. The body of Christ functions best when all members resolve to serve God and each other to the best of their ability. 1 Cor. 12:25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
In Tough Ministries
Dr. Charles F. Stanley
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