Today’s Reading: Romans 12
Romans 12:4- 8
For as in one body we have many members,[e] and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,[f] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
After reading and reflecting on this chapter I am reminded of my 19th birthday. I was a sophomore in college and I had a part-time job as a “Casual Handler” at FedEx. I basically unloaded the small commuter trucks and loaded the semi-trucks in the evenings. This was a labor intensive two hours that you had to perform without delay or injury. On my birthday, I decided to go into work early and get into a particular work rhythm to get off earlier. As my teammate and I started to get into a groove, I misjudged a packaged and crushed my right hand into the conveyor belt [I am right-handed]. At first I wanted to continue to work, but was pulled off the line to get checked out. I was okay, except a couple of pulled tendons on my two middle fingers. I had one expectation of the workday and another one was resented to me. I found myself unable to type, write or prepare anything for a while.
My beautiful wife and I have three amazing kids. I think of us as a hand, five members of a unique unit. Each of us a vital member that if something happens to one part, the unit cannot function properly. Last year and through out this year different parts of the hand have been bruised, clipped, or pricked, but we have been able to preserve with the strength of Christ and His love. Exactly a year ago, Oliver was in the hospital with what we have found to be a Crohn’s Flare. Ruby has been having absence seizures for the past couple of months. On top of the “normal” parenting and growing pains. God has place each of us into the body of Christ we need each other to survive and grow.
This community of believers forms a beautiful body which each person and household represents a vital part of the central body: some may be the legs, arms, feet, neck, torso but we all need each other to function. The Holy Spirit is the connection to us all, but we need to make sure that we can communicate with the Spirit and with each other in order to grow and prosper. The finger cannot know that there is a thorn in the toe; and the arm does not know that the tooth has a cavity. We must be intentional about what our needs are to each other, only then will we be able to provide for each other in the way that will allow us to grow. I am blessed to be a part of the body and if there is anything I can provide let me know, as I will reach out to you.