I have been deeply touched by the incredible relationship that we can have with Jesus and how when we respond to Him, He moves with us and enables us to accomplish more than we can imagine.
Colossians 1: 18
“ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. “
Jesus is the head and we are the body...this makes perfect sense; together we are one. We take instruction from the head to effect His will; we are the hands, feet, and other elements that make us the body of Christ.
So, if we are not responding to the will of the LORD, then we are like a hand that is not responding to the electric impulses of the nervous system; and we risk being labelled ‘disabled’ (crippled; injured; incapacitated).
Now we know that the Fruit of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; and long may we represent Jesus well, internally within ourselves and externally to those we encounter.
We have a great commission from Jesus, one that cannot effectively take place unless the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ are flowing from within us ...
Matthew 28: 18-19
“ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Our LORD Jesus came to save sinners from eternal hell. He is the way, the truth and the life and it is only through Him that we can be saved from this terrifying destiny. We give Him all praise and glory for what He has done for all of us; our Blessed Saviour.
It is only the HEAD of the body that can wear a crown – the Glory belongs to Him. We are merely the elements that make up the body of Christ.
The question is: can we afford to be a disabled part of the ‘Body of Christ’ ...
John 15: 1-4
“ I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “
To be effective, we need to be a unified body under His instruction. In fact if we were all individually unified with Christ, we would automatically be unified with each other. It is His plan, and His vision. Let us reach out in obedience to Him and continue the work of the LORD with urgency. We cannot risk complacency and inactivity.
Be encouraged to trust Him and know that He is your source of Living Water and eternal nourishment.
CHRIS