In Community

Read ! Corinthians 12:12-26

Our bodies have many parts, but the many parts make up only one body when they are all put together. so it is with the "body" of Christ. Each of us is a part of the one body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves and some are free. But the Holy Spirit has fitted us all together into one body. We have been baptized into Christ's body by the one Spirit, and have all been given that same Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12: 12-13 (TLB)

Ruth Sri Ningsih lives in East Java, Indonesia. When her husband invited Ruth to go shopping for building materials at a hardware store, she saw the many different types of materials used to make buildings. Ruth realized how many materials are required to build a house, including sand, cement, bricks, nails, tile, and wall paint, to name a few.

Indeed, the materials they bought do not look like they will form a building. But in the hands of skilled builders, the raw materials will come together to form a beautiful house.

Likewise, it seems that as Christians our purpose may be difficult to determine alone. But if we join with other Christians in community, our purpose becomes clearer. Christians need one another. Some lead worship, some play music, some share God's word, and so on. This wonderful unity strengthens us. It is beautiful when Christians build each other up and work together to serve God.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the fellowship of other Christians. Help us to build each other up and find unity in our faith communities, in Jesus' name. Amen.