“We — together — are his body. But his (Christ’s) body has been known to misbehave. The brain discounts the heart. (Academics discount worshippers.) The hands criticize the knees. (People of action criticize people of prayer.) The eyes refuse to partner with the feet. (Visionary thinkers won’t work with steady laborers.) A clear case of mutiny on the body.”- Max Lucado
“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. . . . They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared meals with great joy and generosity.”- Acts 2:42,46 (NLT)
In Chapter 5 (“Team Up”) of Outlive Your Life, Max Lucado observes that our common concern provides us with a common song. Furthermore, Pastor Lucado asserts, Jesus planned this all along. Because, Max adds, “None of us can do what all of us can do.”
Therefore, Pastor Lucado exhorts, we cannot say to another person that we have no need of him/her. Thus, cooperation represents more than a good idea. Instead, it’s a command. In Ephesians 4:3 (NIV) the apostle Paul writes, “Make every effort to keep the unity of Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Finally, Max notes, the suffering suffer most when workers divide. Hence, the Jerusalem church established ways of working together. They found common ground in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. As a result, lives were changed. And the same thing will happen as we find common ground.
Consequently, Pastor Lucado sees the congregation in Jerusalem as a microcosm of God’s plan. While no one can do everything, everyone can do something. As Luke writes in Acts 4:33-34 (NLT) – “The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them.”
Max reminds us that those who suffer belong to all of us. And if we respond, hope arises.
Today’s question: How do you work with others as part of His body? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Most ancient of ministries – hospitality”
