Come Alive

I’ve been spending a lot of time with our four-month-old granddaughter, June, lately. It’s amazing how fast newborns come alive. She already has two teeth, rolls around a lot, and has a very sophisticated sense of humor. She smiles and laughs at all my attempts to amuse her. Babies are such good audiences.

It’s a real study in the development and the awesomeness of the human body when you spend time with a four-month-old. Parts of her body have come to life, while others are still half asleep. Her eyes find yours, her neck holds up her head, and of course, her plumbing is working overtime. However, her legs still resemble cooked spaghetti, her hands beat to their own drum, and her spine isn’t quite stacking up, literally. Her attempts at sitting up are amusing. 

The human body is made up of many different parts. When all the parts are working together, the body is in harmony and it can function the way it is supposed to. The same goes for the body of Christ.

What exactly is the body of Christ?

In his article “The Mystical Body of Christ: The Parts of the Body,” Jonathan Hayes states:

“For as one body we have many parts…so we, though many, are one body with Christ” Romans 12:5

This common phrase is repeated many times throughout Scripture, especially by St. Paul in his epistles. Each and every time it is stated it is in reference to us, the people who follow God.

He goes on to say: Just as every body part has a specific function within the body that is different from almost every other body part, so it is with us, that we all have our own gifts from God that we are each called to use in a way that He desires.

We are all in service to the Body as a whole. We use our different abilities together in order that the main Body of Jesus Christ functions the way it is supposed to.

Whether you connect through my weekly blogs, or are able to join us in person or on Zoom, you are an integral part of the body of Christ that is the Firstfruits community. What body part might you be? What gifts might you have that are waiting to come alive in service to the body of Christ that is Firstfruits so it can function the way it is supposed to?

So much can be accomplished when all the body parts come alive. Just ask June, once she can stay upright.

Joan

Since we have gifts that differ according
to the grace given to us, let us exercise them.     
 Romans 12:6