Wednesday, February 2, 2011

And This Is Church.

I love watching the Body of Christ, when each member knows what their specific functions are, fill up the space Holy Spirit created just for them. It's like when the square peg fits just right into the square hole, leaving the triangle to fit in where he belongs. Or when you've been searching for that one elusive puzzle piece, and the finding of it brings a greater clarity to the whole picture.

And the best part is that when each one becomes the member they are, all the best is drawn, compelled even, out of the rest. It's beautiful. Perfect. A reflection of the Perfect Beauty.

The temptation to crawl inside oneself when introduced to a new equation is often sadly much more inviting than the discovery of where to fit in order to fill up the whole. At least, it can be for me. And where does that intimidation come from? Who else would love nothing better than to keep the Body from being built up until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ*? Who else is petrified of the Bride becoming everything she is intended to be? Hmmm....

When I keep eternity in perspective, I am truly excited to watch us become the measure of the stature which is the FULLNESS of our Christ. The complete picture. Beautiful.

(From 1 Peter 1:13 - 23)
Gird your minds for action
Keep sober in spirit
Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
Be obedient children
Do not be conformed to former lusts
Like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior
Purify your souls for a sincere love of the brethren
Fervently love one another from the heart
Conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth, knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood; as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ

(*From Ephesians 4:1 - 16)
Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called
Be humble and gentle and patient
Show tolerance for one another in love
Be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
Speak the truth in love
Grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love

To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift...for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

(From Philippians 2:1 - 18)
Be of the same mind (as Christ)
Maintain the same love (as Christ)
Be united in spirit
Be intent on one purpose
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit

Regard one another as more important than yourselves
Look out for the interests of others
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling
Do all things without grumbling or disputing
Be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach

Shine as lights in the world
Hold fast the word of life
r.

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