Be A Member

Happy "Be A Member" Saturday, Everyone!

Hi all.

Are you a member of anything? I'm a member of a hunting camp. I used to be a member of the electrical union. I used to be a member of the Boy Scouts. I am a member of First Baptist Church of Saltillo PA.

What about you; are you a member of anything? The title of this weeks Sunday School lesson is called "Members of One Body." The Apostle Paul really hammers this home in his letter to the Corinthians because he wants them to realize that, in Christ, we are actually more than a team; more than a family; more than a group of believers. We are one body; the SAME body, but as different members of the body. Not different bodies; one body! You say, "how can that be?" Well, the Bible explains that we Christians are the "Bride of Christ" and also the "Building of Christ." The bride speaks to the church's relationship to Jesus Christ, and the building speaks of the church's growth. The "body" describes the diversity and unity that are found in the church. The Bible tells us that when we are born again that God places us in the body.

1 Cor. 12:23-27 "And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, [24] while other parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. [25] This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally. [26] If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

[27] Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it."

God places us there for a purpose, regardless of skill, to help each other and to share. To share what? To share Joy. To share Sorrow. To share pain. To share healing and growth. Soooooooooooooo, the unified body is a diverse church with diverse gifts that are to be used for the building up of God's Kingdom here on earth. Friends, as members of one body, there is something else I need to tell you. We are inseparably bound to one another - forever! We must value not only our own gifts and talents, but those gifts and talents of others. After all, We Are One...In Christ!

May the Lord of Hosts bless you and keep you safe and productive this week my friends, Amen!