Nougat 6

Please see the correct nougat

How does our witness together impact our world and unity? Please consider today’s Holy Nougat

“This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There are a few things in life others can’t do on our behalf, and our relationship with the Triune God is highest on the list. And that relationship includes our witness to and of Christ. Now most of us might have operated in a context where there are key ministers in our place of worship and the others are somewhat free (exempt from) active engagement. But while that system has merit, practically and otherwise, it is not in any way intended to absolve the others of us from our own stewardship.

With regard to the nougat, we realize that it is together that we are God’s body. Not separate. For myself I have had body issues longer than I care to remember. When I wasn’t being teased for being fat, I was dealing with the knees or wanting to be a little more … It took a toll on me, as I started to believe the lies and soon my body was not functioning as God intended. When I started to love my body, I was more intentional about caring for it and in turn about listening to my body. It is not wholly in tune with its purpose, but my body has begun to function much better. And I am learning that *every part matters*! Of equal importance for me to learn was all the parts are connected, every single one.

It’s the same with the Body of Christ. If we waste precious moments berating other members of the Body of Christ, we are actually practicing self-hate or self harm. We might not agree, but it is no cause for hate-speech or hateful actions. Harmony is not achieved by sameness; no! It is by the complementary nature of the different parts.

Thus, just as the knee issues impacts my mobility, and is impacted by my weight, diet, and circulation; which in turn affects my energy levels, my pressure and my ability to focus; so it is with the Body of Christ. When one suffers, all of us are impacted. When one of us fails to use the gifts God intends to build the Body of Christ, we are all affected. Locally, globally, regionally. When we all – every single one of us who claim our faith in Jesus Christ all – begin to serve faithfully, I guarantee, we will be seeing exponential growth and transformation in our lives and the world. Don’t believe me, reread Acts 2:42 onward.

So we encourage ourselves, we open doors to build each other up, so that our Body is attuned to Christ and this works in accordance with God’s Spirit and plans. Additionally I wish to urge us to consider our own responses to our own physical bodies as much as we do the Body of Jesus Christ.

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In Christ’s love and grace