The Christ life is not about independent living

Romans 12:4-8

Romans 12:4-8

The Christ life is not about independent living, but is designed around a body, a body of believers who have come to an understanding of what the Spirit is teaching us in Romans 12:4-8.  When thinking about a body it is the physical body that comes to mind, and more than likely it is the parts that are seen.  Such as the head, ears, neck, shoulder, arms, chest, elbows, back, forearm, stomach, waist, hip, buttocks, thigh, knees, calf, shin, and heel, feet, and toes.  But that only covers most of the parts that are seen, and those are small compared to all the parts that are covered with skin. 

As followers of Christ, we need to awaken to our need to function as the body of Christ, for it is clear “we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function.”  The verse does not end where I put the period, it goes on to state; “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of the other.”  WOW, is that stating we are locked together in some manner?  And can we compare living the Christ life with other believers much like the arm depends on the shoulder and the elbow so that the hand can perform to its design and carry out the needs of the body.

I must confess it is easy for me minister to the needs of others, but want to be very private about my own needs, or letting others come alongside me when in need.  I’m sure of this that is not the correct response; it is not allowing the body of Christ to be in working order. 

I want to share two examples of verses 4-8, working out in my own life and how they have made a profound impact on my life.  We had floods in San Marcos, Texas and Jan and I volunteered with other believers in Christ to intentionally engage that community with the love of Jesus Christ.  We were a small part of the body of Christ, working with Samaritan’s Purse, and each came with different gifts to do the work of ministry for those who had lost so much.  It was body life, and it was amazing to watch what God will do when we forget self and obey.

My second example is very personal I ended up in a hospital the same day as I took my physical, for very high blood pressure.  After a series of tests, it was determined I needed to have a carotid endarterectomy, and I had to make some hard choices about who and when I wanted that information to go out to.  I chose to follow the example of Romans 12:4-8, and allowed the body of Christ to minister to me in the same way I had seen the body of Christ do through Samaritan’s Purse in San Marcos, Texas, and later in Bastrop, Texas some months later. 

This is what I’ve learned, we have many members with different gifts and they are all gifts of grace given to us so that we can meet the needs of others.  Some have the gift of prayer, others encouragement, some are servants, and others teach, and some exhort, and many are called to be givers of all kinds of gifts, many have the gift of mercy and can change your outlook with the love and cheerfulness that comes from them.  And each of us in the body has the gifts and measure of faith that God has assigned so that we can intentionally engage our community and each other with the love of Jesus Christ.

Let me share a two quotes: “You were made for mutually self-giving, other directed love. Self-centeredness destroys the fabric of what God has made.” (Tim Keller) 

“Believers are never told to become one; we already are one and are expected to act like it.” (Joni Eareckson Tada)

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

, but is designed around a body, a body of believers who have come to an understanding of what the Spirit is teaching us in Romans 12:4-8.  When thinking about a body it is the physical body that comes to mind, and more than likely it is the parts that are seen.  Such as the head, ears, neck, shoulder, arms, chest, elbows, back, forearm, stomach, waist, hip, buttocks, thigh, knees, calf, shin, and heel, feet, and toes.  But that only covers most of the parts that are seen, and those are small compared to all the parts that are covered with skin. 

As followers of Christ, we need to awaken to our need to function as the body of Christ, for it is clear “we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function.”  The verse does not end where I put the period, it goes on to state; “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of the other.”  WOW, is that stating we are locked together in some manner?  And can we compare living the Christ life with other believers much like the arm depends on the shoulder and the elbow so that the hand can perform to its design and carry out the needs of the body.

I must confess it is easy for me minister to the needs of others, but want to be very private about my own needs, or letting others come alongside me when in need.  I’m sure of this that is not the correct response; it is not allowing the body of Christ to be in working order. 

I want to share two examples of verses 4-8, working out in my own life and how they have made a profound impact on my life.  We had floods in San Marcos, Texas and Jan and I volunteered with other believers in Christ to intentionally engage that community with the love of Jesus Christ.  We were a small part of the body of Christ, working with Samaritan’s Purse, and each came with different gifts to do the work of ministry for those who had lost so much.  It was body life, and it was amazing to watch what God will do when we forget self and obey.

My second example is very personal I ended up in a hospital the same day as I took my physical, for very high blood pressure.  After a series of tests, it was determined I needed to have a carotid endarterectomy, and I had to make some hard choices about who and when I wanted that information to go out to.  I chose to follow the example of Romans 12:4-8, and allowed the body of Christ to minister to me in the same way I had seen the body of Christ do through Samaritan’s Purse in San Marcos, Texas, and later in Bastrop, Texas some months later. 

This is what I’ve learned, we have many members with different gifts and they are all gifts of grace given to us so that we can meet the needs of others.  Some have the gift of prayer, others encouragement, some are servants, and others teach, and some exhort, and many are called to be givers of all kinds of gifts, many have the gift of mercy and can change your outlook with the love and cheerfulness that comes from them.  And each of us in the body has the gifts and measure of faith that God has assigned so that we can intentionally engage our community and each other with the love of Jesus Christ.

Let me share a two quotes: “You were made for mutually self-giving, other directed love. Self-centeredness destroys the fabric of what God has made.” (Tim Keller) 

“Believers are never told to become one; we already are one and are expected to act like it.” (Joni Eareckson Tada)

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice