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You
And The Rest Of Us
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God called us into one body. We are all
parts. Each part is important. There are no vestigial organs in the body
of Christ. Every one is important to the function of the whole. And the
health of each part of the body is important to the general welfare. That
means that YOU are important to the rest of us.
We need your presence. The work of the local congregation suffers to whatever extent the whole body is not together. When one part pulls against the other, that works to the detriment of the whole. We are called together. We are called into one fellowship, the fellowship of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:9). Fellowship is only possible when all the fellows who comprise it are present. The rest of us need you. We need your participation. The body is composed of functioning parts. When each one does his part the body functions efficiently; when even one part is inactive, the whole body suffers to some extent. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them,” Jesus said (Matt. 18:20) Parts working together is what part-cipation is all about. You are a part; you need to participate. The rest of us need you. We need your encouragement. We are all kin. Kinship is what togetherness is all about. Furthermore, we are blood kin. We are all part of that blood-bought relationship called “the church” (Acts 20:28). Those who are blood kin root for one another, they care for one another, they look out for one another. You are blood kin. The rest of us need you. We need your love. Love is what cements us all together. It is the “bond of perfectness” (Col. 3:14). When you deprive us of your care and concern, when you restrict your love, we all suffer, for it is that love that binds us together so that the body is strong and healthy. Love motivates, too. When your love is not present the motivation of the whole church suffers some. Love is energy. Our work flags somewhat, our enthusiasm is diminished some when you don’t see fit to love as you should. Love binds. “What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:6). God has joined us together by His love; we stay together by ours. The rest of us need you. We need your difference. Not all the parts of the body are the same, but no part of the body is unimportant. If you can’t teach or lead singing that doesn’t mean you’re not part. You can bring whatever talent you have to the benefit of the whole. There are five talent men in the kingdom; and there are two talent men in the kingdom; and there are one talent men in the kingdom. Surely you don’t want to be like the one talent man in Matthew 25. Had he used what he had he would have received the same commendation as the others. We need your ability, we need your influence, we need your support. The rest of us need you. And you need the rest of us, too. Copyright (C) 2003 Southside Church of Christ |