Romans 12:4-5 “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of one another.”
I Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
While these passages describe differing aspects of Christian ministry as compared with human anatomy, we need to remember that The Word is speaking to us, as well, not just the Christians in Rome and Corinth. We are not to think of ourselves as special or privileged just because we are called to do different ministries within the realm of God’s kingdom.
It has been said that “A good leader is a good servant”. One who follows Christ must be willing to go where Christ leads; whether we are led to the pulpit with Bible in hand, or the bathroom with toilet brush in hand. Whether Christ leads us to a foreign land to share our witness and testify of our Savior, or keeps on home ground to share Jesus here.
With us being a body ministry, where the missionaries go, we all go. We go by tithing into their ministry, which not only helps them serve in the country to which they have been called, but feeds and clothes them, as well. We go with them in prayer: we pray for their faithfulness and we pray that the hearts of those to whom they minister are opened and ready to receive Jesus.
Whatever we are called to do, we are to do in love, in the love of God. Where ever we are called to serve, we are to remember that not everyone serves God in the same way. We are not to revere our pastor above our janitor. In many instances, the pastor is the janitor.
Am I a good leader? A good servant? Am I following Christ the way He wants me to follow Him? Am I leading people to Christ the way He wants me to lead? Questions we must ask ourselves and answer honestly. Without honesty, we lack integrity. Without integrity, we must repent and seek God’s forgiveness for our wicked ways. It is the integrity of our faith that keeps us near the cross and near our Savior.
We must remember that it is for God’s glory that we are called to serve where He has placed us, not our own. The heart of the body is Jesus Christ. The Love of God flows through our veins via The Holy Spirit. This love flows into each part of the body of Christ, whatever that part does in the body of Christ. We are a body ministry and we are to serve, to encourage, to love each other according to The Word of God.
