The One Part 1: Body!

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” – Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV

Within human body, there are many different parts and each of them take different functions. Although they take different functions, they can support each other (1 Corinthians 12:15-17). For example, the spirit can support the heart, which enables to support the mind. When I am writing devotionals on the computer, my right hand is supporting my brain. Unfortunately, I have a cerebral palsy, so I cannot control my left hand properly and cannot talk properly. However, I am thankful that my brain works really well, even though it works in slow process. Because of this, I do not mind if I cannot talk properly as I have received a gracious gift from God, that I am able to preach the gospel through writing.

As Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for our death penalties, we become members of His body. It is like jigsaw puzzle (Romans 12:4-5). Verse 25 and 26 of 1 Corinthians 12 states that members of Christ’s body should be united in everything. I really like the motto of Windsor Park Baptist Church, which is “doing life and faith together.” Since my spiritual mother and I have a similar passion of the Lord, when we both hear good news about Jesus Christ in the life of somebody, we start to rejoice. They can make us laugh as we are filled with joy of the Lord. According to “The New Testament in Antiquity,” the statement, “friends are one soul,” was considered as a proverb. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, said that a friend is “a single soul dwelling in two bodies.” I consider my Christian friends and my spiritual mentor as part of my family as I know that they belong to God and I consider myself as a child of Him. Hence, I am not afraid to ask for help. My spiritual mother once said that picking somebody up and dropping them off are not considered as a burden because of spiritual growth. I agree with her. What I think is spiritual growth would happen as they are building their friendship with each other.

When church members are gathered together, it is often called as the body of Christ. It is probably because their minds and hearts are united as they have same desire in worshipping God through faith in Jesus Christ when they are in churches. In fact, the church is just a building where people can worship Him together. Therefore, people are the church of Jesus Christ. Jesus declared to Peter that he will build His church upon him when Peter replied that Jesus is the “Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-18).