If We Are His Body. . .

If We are His Body...

The Casting Crowns song has been playing in my head a lot lately, along with the words from a video series I am watching. John Bevere made a very good and startling point. If 80 percent of your body was not working, what would you call it. Invalid or cripple, right? Doesn't this apply to our church body as well? With only 20 percent of most church bodies doing the work, is it any wonder why we don't see any big revivals going on. We all want to see God at work, but are we willing to do our part to make sure that it happens?

When we become part of a local church we become part of that body. Our calling is not to just go to church on Sunday's, receive and uplifting message and return home. Every singe believer has a calling on their life. Every single person has a job that they are meant to carry out. And one job is not more important than the other. Without people cleaning the church, we would not have a welcoming environment for people to come into. Without the nursery workers, we would not have a service quiet enough to listen too. Without the coffee makers, there would be no refreshments to enjoy while fellowshipping with others. Without each member making a sacrifice, the work does not get done. Too many people face burn out, because they serve in all kinds of areas, and see too many others just sitting on the sidelines.

The church in Acts knew how to work together. They shared everything. People felt honored to be asked to do any task. Think of the seven men chosen to serve the widows. This is the story I heard recently in a video series by John Bevere. These men were delighted to be asked to serve the church in this manner. What was the result of their obedience? Many people began to believe. We all want to see God move in our churches. We want to see the miracles of the Bible happen among us. And some do. But, there could be more. The outpouring would be stronger if we all stepped up to the plate and started serving God. Others would see our love and caring and come to check it out. Then they would have the desire to get involved. You want God to show up? Then show up yourselves.

We have become to complacent in the United States to just have God around when we feel desperate. Then we have the urge to see Him at work and answer prayers. Why aren't we praising Him just for who He is? Just for what He did for us? Wasn't sending His only Son to the cross to die for us enough? Shouldn't this cause us to want to help someone?

The people who have the greatest joys in this life are people who are serving God. Who are not concerned with themselves, but think of their neighbors. When a missionary comes to speak at a church they all have a glow on there faces. They are a part of a mighty work of God. They have seen what He can do and they have come to trust He will always be there. They have given up the comforts of this life to serve others. And I bet if you were to ask any of them if they felt they were missing out on life, they would answer “NO WAY!” We could all take some good lessons from them.

So, I urge to search out your calling. We all have one. Like the song goes:

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
This song is about people who come into a church looking for hope and no one reaches out to them. We are ambassadors for Christ. We are suppose to be modeling Him to others.

Be the arms that reach out. Teach others about what Christ has done for you and what He has to offer them. Get your feet moving and go do something for God. When we do this we will see God move. We will see what third world countries see today when missionaries go over there. We will see the miracles of God at work.