Body-Building

Right off the bat let me just be clear... I am not a body-builder. Those of you who know me can very quickly tell. However, because I would like to gain some weight, I got to thinking about the idea of body-building. A lot of hard work, training, and dedication is required to see results. (I know in theory mostly, though I did apply myself to put on some pounds a little while ago and achieved my goal, but then lost it.) But my point isn't how much I weigh, or how much I'd like to weigh, or whether or not I should start body-building to put on some muscle, etc. My point is this, hard work, training, and dedication (and many other aspects) are needed in body-building. Well, we are the body of Christ. Question, then: Are we willing to put in the necessary hard work, training, and dedication to the body of Christ? Now I know that looks different depending on who you are and where you are geographically, spiritually, financially, etc., but it might also look like a group of believers dedicated to God's Word, reaching out to the lost around them, building each other up through prayer and the Gospel, holding each other accountable, and the list goes on. I say all of that to leave you with 2 quick thoughts:

1 - Reflect on the following passage of Scripture and please take the time to personally read the entire passage:

I Corinthians 12:12-14
12: Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

13: For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body-whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14: Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Point here is this: We are all different parts, but we all belong to the the one Body, of which Jesus is the Head, so it is about the body bringing glory to the Head, not each part exalting itself above the others.

2 - And with that, consider this from Stella's House: www.stellasvoice.org

Our Arms - Hold Orphans
Our Hands - Feed Orphans
Our Hearts - Love Orphans
Our Voices - Protect Orphans

So, the challenge for us is... what are we doing to build the body?