TOGETHER HAVING THE SAME VALUE
- BUILDING A LIVING TEMPLE
Eva Haglund, Sweden
As the members in the human body are connected to each other, and together form a complete body, we need each other in Body of Christ. This is taught in 1 Cor 12. We need each other. Not to just meet on Sunday in a church building.
We do not go to the church - we are the church. The church is not a building. Even if we have a building to meet in, it is good to also meet in homes. We know that Jesus also taught in a home where Martha and Mary lived. We can seek God together along with friends.
About gifts - we all have our own calling and gifts, unique as we are. As members in the human body need each other, so we need each other with these unique gifts and callings. It would be boring if all had the same calling and gifts. But God has given us different gifts to build beautifully together.
Sometimes some gifts are looked down at by people. Sometimes practical gifts are not counted as high as theoretical gifts but this is not as God looks at the gifts and callings.
As flowers in creation are beautiful together so we are beautiful with our gifts and callings together. Our gifts are not just for a church building but also to be used in other places. In 1 Corinthians 12 we can see that all members are needed with different gifts, and each have the same value. It is written in the verses 15-18, "For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "I am not a hand therefore I am not of the body, is it not therefore of the body? If the whole body were an eye where would be the hearing?"
Here we see that all have their unique callings. We need to share our gifts with each other. Even a cup of coffee can encourage, and a smile shared with another.
David took care of sheep in the Bible. God cared about the sheep and David was taught how to take care of sheep. He also was learning how to know God in a deeper way as he sought Him alone and sang beautiful songs to the Lord.
Our gifts also can be seen in our friendships. Fellowship is important among Christians and is more than just doing things for God. The most important friendship is with Jesus, but it ought to go hand in hand with friendship among Christians. God is love and that love ought to be seen among us. We need each other.
In Acts 2:46 we understand that there were Christians who lived close to each other and met. I think God wants to restore more of this among us. In church meetings I think we need to hear not just leaders preaching but also other people. For instance, one can share a prophecy, a Scripture, an experience or a dream. In small home meetings this becomes more natural.
I think gifts are like bread, which we need daily. We have all pieces of bread and together it forms a full loaf.
The church, the Body of Christ, is also like stones. As it is written in 1 Peter 2:5, "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house." We are different stones, but together we build the temple , with Jesus as the Cornerstone. I think that more of the stones will be connected to each other in the new prophetic time, as the living stones will create a temple of the Lord.
Love is important. In 1 Corinthians 12:13 we read "But now abide faith, hope and love, these three,but the greatest of these is love."
Yeshua (Jesus) is love. He gave all in love for us. We read in Isaiah 53 so that anyone who believes in Him will be saved. Get to know Jesus.
