There have been a lot of thoughts running through my head over the last few days.
First, I have been thinking more about how we were designed to function within a body. There are certain qualities I do not possess that I see in brothers and sisters. For example, there are certain brothers and sisters I fellowship with that tend to operate in the gift of discernment much more than I do. For all of my years following the Lord, this has caused me much distress. I think, "What is wrong with me? Why did I not immediately sense that what that person said was not from the Lord?" Then I hear my brother Paul saying, "If the whole body was an ear, where would the sense of smell be?" If what God was after was a bunch of individuals who could seek Him perfectly separately, it would not make sense for there to be different gifts. But, if what He is after is a body that is built up by what each part supplies, it is perfect for each of us to fulfill a different function. So, now I see that I was designed to be in fellowship with believers who operate in the gift of discernment. And so, just as a hand submits to what the ear hears when someone warns, "Don't touch that, it's hot," I submit to my brothers and sisters who are seeking the Lord and hearing from Him.
Another thought in regards to being designed to function within a body is that we each have our own tendencies in certain ideas. It has really been bothering me lately how brothers and sisters that are seeking the Lord have differing opinions on certain things, even important things. For example, I have noticed that people seem to either know more of grace and love or more of holiness. While both would agree that we are saved by grace and nothing we can do is good and God loves us and accepts us and that sanctification is a process, one talks a whole lot about how God only has love and compassion for us and the other talks a whole lot about how God hates sin and living a holy life. For a while I was very concerned about this seeming discrepancy. However, I have come to see that this is another reason we were designed to function within a body. Again, if God were after a bunch of perfect individuals, I believe He could not let us have these differences. But He has designed us to balance each other out. The closer fellowship these two believers have, the more they realize the other is absolutely right, and they each are moved to the center, where the Lord would have them be.
And my last thought is "How do we guard ourselves against becoming religious, following a certain form or certain rules rather than the person of Jesus Christ?" I believe the best, and perhaps the only, way is spending time in the secret place, alone with God. As we gaze upon the face of Jesus and meditate upon the truth in His Word, we are transformed, and we will accept no cheap imitations.
First, I have been thinking more about how we were designed to function within a body. There are certain qualities I do not possess that I see in brothers and sisters. For example, there are certain brothers and sisters I fellowship with that tend to operate in the gift of discernment much more than I do. For all of my years following the Lord, this has caused me much distress. I think, "What is wrong with me? Why did I not immediately sense that what that person said was not from the Lord?" Then I hear my brother Paul saying, "If the whole body was an ear, where would the sense of smell be?" If what God was after was a bunch of individuals who could seek Him perfectly separately, it would not make sense for there to be different gifts. But, if what He is after is a body that is built up by what each part supplies, it is perfect for each of us to fulfill a different function. So, now I see that I was designed to be in fellowship with believers who operate in the gift of discernment. And so, just as a hand submits to what the ear hears when someone warns, "Don't touch that, it's hot," I submit to my brothers and sisters who are seeking the Lord and hearing from Him.
Another thought in regards to being designed to function within a body is that we each have our own tendencies in certain ideas. It has really been bothering me lately how brothers and sisters that are seeking the Lord have differing opinions on certain things, even important things. For example, I have noticed that people seem to either know more of grace and love or more of holiness. While both would agree that we are saved by grace and nothing we can do is good and God loves us and accepts us and that sanctification is a process, one talks a whole lot about how God only has love and compassion for us and the other talks a whole lot about how God hates sin and living a holy life. For a while I was very concerned about this seeming discrepancy. However, I have come to see that this is another reason we were designed to function within a body. Again, if God were after a bunch of perfect individuals, I believe He could not let us have these differences. But He has designed us to balance each other out. The closer fellowship these two believers have, the more they realize the other is absolutely right, and they each are moved to the center, where the Lord would have them be.
And my last thought is "How do we guard ourselves against becoming religious, following a certain form or certain rules rather than the person of Jesus Christ?" I believe the best, and perhaps the only, way is spending time in the secret place, alone with God. As we gaze upon the face of Jesus and meditate upon the truth in His Word, we are transformed, and we will accept no cheap imitations.
Wow. Wonderful post, sister. Praise the Lord for the Body! Praise the Lord that we need one another and that He has given us one another. And I praise the Lord for you and the things He has shown you of Himself to share with us!
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