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The Best Thing to Do for the Body This Year
The Best Thing to Do for the Body This Year
When it comes to caring for the physical body, I have a lot to learn. While I work out nearly every day, my most developed muscle is the table one. I will be working to use that muscle far less this year. Judging from all the new faces in the gym this morning, there are a lot of people who are going to be exercising their bodies – at least for the next few days or weeks - who haven't been doing so.
When it comes to caring for the spiritual body of Christ, I have even more to learn. Helping the church grow, develop, and fulfill its purpose better is a challenge that grows more daunting with each new year as our culture changes, our own distractions mount, and our sight is so easily eclipsed by the influence of this world. With that in mind, there is something we can do for His body that will give it its best opportunity to please God. It centers around what we do with the Bible, as a church.
We must have confidence that God's Word will give us what we need to have to be what we need to be. Through such, we will be "nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine" (1 Timothy 4:6). It takes the Word to cause "the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16). Isn't this what Paul is also saying to the Colossians, when he urges them to hold fast to the head so that the body would grow "with a growth which is from God"? (2:19). We cannot hope to strengthen and protect Christ's spiritual body locally without consulting the training manual of the Great Physician.
Let's make that specific and practical:
Preachers must lovingly preach even the difficult subjects (i.e., God's law of marriage, divorce, and remarriage, the distinct plan of salvation, the undenominational, singular nature of the New Testament church, God's sexual ethics, the role of men and women, God's pattern of worship, personal purity, etc.) and be a living example of the believer as their ethic is driven by that Word.
Elders must shepherd guided by the infallible Word and not with personal favoritism, deciding solely on popularity or what the majority favors, bending to political correctness, fear of offending influential members, and the like.
Members must follow with love, esteem, and cooperation when their leaders urge them to follow God's truth, even if it's distasteful to us or challenges our comfort and complacency.
Individual Christians must discipline their hearts and minds to be open and submissive to what they encounter in Scripture rather than be defensive and rebellious.
Families must dedicate themselves to studying and honoring the Word at home, in their daily lives, to grow and mature in the Words of truth.
Each of us must see the mandate to save souls, repeated throughout the New Testament, as a personal responsibility for which God holds us all accountable.
Isn't it exciting to think about how much stronger the body of Christ where we are might be this time next year? If each of us will allow God's inspired word to be the beacon and guide of our lives, His body is going to be powerful, noticeable, and desirable. We will draw men to Christ. We will be the picture of spiritual health. As you make your resolutions, won't you determine to let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you (Colossians 3:16). --Copied
