JC Blog

It's time for the church to be the church. It is time for it to stand up and be the glorious creation that Jesus paid for it to be. No longer, should there be no difference between believers and the world, but we should look like day in comparison to the darkness that exists. As Paul reminds us, "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here".

We were called to walk in the light as He is in the light ( I John 1:7 ). As believers we have been rescued from the darkness that held us captive and ushered into the kingdom of his dear son ( Colossians 1:13 ). Because of this we are new creations in Christ Jesus ( II Corinthians 5:17 ), as such we should live like who we are; not wrapped up in the behaviors of the world. The things of this world are evident; immoralities, drunkenness, debauchery, dissension, jealousy, all of these things characterize the world. As Christians there should not even be a hint of these things among us. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children" ( Ephesians 5:1 ). Emulating God will make us shine like the noon day sun in this dark world.

Paul went on to say in Ephesians, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible" ( Ephesians 5:8-14 ). If we live according to our new nature fashioned after Jesus in true righteousness and holiness ( Ephesians 4:24 ), then every evil deed around us will be exposed by the light of His truth functioning in our lives. People will notice the difference in our lives and respond to it. The Lord living through us will convict those around us because our lives will be so different than theirs.

Jesus also instructed the disciples on this matter. "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man" ( Luke 21:34-36 ). He knew that in the last days mankind would be so evil that unless we were careful those concerns would creep in and entrap us. Jesus' solution was to watch and pray in order to escape the corruption in the world. As believers we must remain in the truth, walk in the light and stand firm until the end.

As the church we are called to overcome and stand our ground. To do this we must understand the Lord's will, watch, pray and surround ourselves with other likeminded believers. We should be careful how we live, making the most of every opportunity ( Ephesians 5:15-17 ). The days are evil, but God has equipped the church to be the light in this dark world. Let's stand together and be all that he has called us to be.

In Christ Jesus we were set apart to belong to God. No longer a part of this world we have been made sons and daughters through Christ and called into a royal priesthood. In the same way, we belong to the body of Christ which is the church. Although the sum total makes up many members we are joined together in such a way that makes us one body. We belong to each other in unity and service to bring the operation of God's kingdom in this world.

Each one of us has been given a special gifting and called to a specific purpose. But on our own we will not accomplish much. Joining together with other believers and utilizing their gifting is what brings meaning and fullness to the body of Christ.

A great example of this is our physical bodies. It has many organs and parts but each part cannot exist on its own. Being a part of the body is what enables the various parts to operate within their function. A heart pumps blood throughout the body, the brain processes, thinks and gives instruction, the skeletal system supports the entire operation and our muscles are what enable us to move about. They all work together to create a living human being capable of amazing things. When there is a problem in any of these parts, then it affects the entire system and as a result the whole body suffers.

The same is true within the body of Christ. We all have different functions, gifting and strengths, but they complement other parts of the body. When operating as God designed us, we are blessing the entire body. When we don't operate the way we were designed, then the body suffers. We are mutually dependent on one another and the makeup of the whole body far outweighs the sum of the individual parts.

Each one of us should consider this and operate as God has called us. There are many parts to the body of Christ and many roles. Not all are teachers, not all are pastors but all have a place. The fact that some roles are not visible within the body of Christ does not mean they are less important. Actually the opposite is true, these gifts are absolutely necessary to the body and hold special honor by God. "While our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it" ( I Corinthians 12:24-27 ).

The great thing about this is each one of us can play to our strengths and the within the gifting that the Lord has given us. This is why we need to renew our minds and prove the will of God for our lives ( Romans 12:2 ). This is how we know what we are called to be. Each part is necessary and each part blesses the body of Christ. We are called to belong to each other.

Today may you understand how you have blessed the body by being called and set apart for a specific use. By faith may you continue to operate in that calling, amen.