The Body of Christ

As a healthy Body

we must be governed by the Head (God the Father)

led & fed by the Heart (Jesus our Shepherd)

and filled by the Holy Spirit

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A body can function without some of its members but it has no life at all without the head, heart and spirit.

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The life we live in the natural comes to an end when we die. To live eternally we need to be born again. This is when we become part of the Body of Christ and this union gives us eternal life. It also means that as a member of the Body we can no longer think and live for ourselves. We live for the Body, our lives are governed by the Head of the Body and we live through the Heart which brings us life and health through the blood. We are filled by the Spirit who activates us.

Jesus was illustrating the meaning of being part of the Body when He said "Take no thought for tomorrow - what ye shall put on - your Father in Heaven knoweth what things ye have need of." (Read Matthew 6 verses 25 - 35). As a part of the Body our only concern should be to obey the commands of the Head the guidance of the Heart and prompting of the Spirit.

Its a very different way of living - but then its a very different Body!

So Let Your Light Shine

Some of you will know that I have a part time job in Richardsons Estate Agent. Richardsons occupies a very small space on the Parade in Minehead. It is very pleasant working there because you are able to see a lot of activity on the street and I enjoy seeing people I know – sometimes they remember I might be watching them and sometimes they don’t!

If there is a possible down side it is that the shop is on the south side of the Parade which means it faces north and gets no sun – a good thing in the summer but a bit chilly in the winter. However, this time of year the sun is at the right height and angle to send its light from the first floor windows across the road right onto my desk! There is not a lot of heat in it but it is cheering.

The world is full of souls who are like cold dark empty vacuums. For one of these souls to receive Christ is like a room being filled with sunshine; and when that soul turns their face to the world with that Glory within – they light up those around.

Many Christians keep their curtains drawn and any glimmer of light spotted seeping out is swiftly covered up – just as it would have been in the Blitz.

Christians become like this over time. In the first few weeks and months as a Christian all the blinds are up and all curtains drawn and all friends and neighbours hear about this wonderful change that has happened. Then slowly as the new Christian becomes ridiculed and despised so the Light gets dimmed as the blinds come down and the curtains are closed. These Christians are not prepared to enter Spiritual warfare and as Jesus described it are hiding their light under a bushel.

As a Christian how do we respond to someone in need? In the beginning of our walk with the Lord we understand His teachings and we give without holding back; without fear or cynicism. Then people start to take advantage of our generosity and we get taken for a ride. We start to learn that we must be more careful.

But I would argue against this path of caution. Jesus clearly knew who would betray Him and yet He continued to allow it to happen. He addressed Judas as friend right up to the moment of betrayal; He could have said, “I am not going to be seen as a mug” but this is how salvation is brought to those who take advantage. Everytime we turn the other cheek and take more punishment, everytime we have the dirt wiped off on us as we are trampled underfoot,- everytime someone says what fools – somewhere in time salvation comes to one of those who have despised us as they feel first guilt, then shame, then repentance.

How far back are your curtains drawn? Are they full length brocade, net or do you have none at all? Perhaps you have blinds that are sometimes pulled down all the way, sometimes halfway and sometimes, like when you are in Church they are pulled all the way to the top!

The important thing to remember is that the Light within us has been freely given and is not ours through any self virtue. The Light is our witness in word and deed. We have it because God caused His Truth to be revealed to our hearts. To keep it hidden is very wrong. There is so much darkness and despair in the world today, keeping our Light hidden is like keeping a life saving vaccine secret from those dying of the disease it could cure.

Read what Paul says on this subject in his second letter to the Corinthians chapter 4.