Being the Body of Christ

Yesterday our church shared the Lord's Supper as we recommitted to being the Body of Christ in our world.

Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us how his body was and is redeeming the world:

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."

While I like being a part of destroying the works of the devil, I'm NOT so excited about how we must do it: by our death.

Christ, by giving his body over to death, was able to redeem the world and destroy the works of the devil. Then we, who are part of Christ's body, must be willing to do the same.

Today, you and I are in the garden with him, praying that the Father would "take this cup" of sacrifice and death "from me".

Maybe today you are having to serve someone you would really rather step on or by whom you should be served.

Maybe today you are having to initiate relationship and communication with someone who has continually wounded and demeaned you.

Maybe today you are having to forgive someone who doesn't care about your forgiveness.

Maybe today you are wrestling with being obedient in these ways or some other way.

But you and I are in the garden with Jesus, who asked the Father to "take this cup from me." And you and I hear him say, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thy will be done."

And you and I come to that same crucial moment.

Healing will only come as we initiate it.

Forgiveness can only occur as we obey.

The Spirit might not bring conviction and real change in the other person until we do what we know we need to do.

Salvation of all creation can't begin until he denies himself, takes up his cross, and dies for you and me.

So as we reach those crucial moments today or throughout the week let us stand with Christ and so by our deaths "destroy him who holds the power of death...and free those who all their lives were held in slavery..."

Grace & peace