It’s time to start thinking differently about the work of Christ’s body. The church is not a place or time; it is a body of believers, each one uniquely gifted by God to guide, help, challenge, and support the rest.
Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, May 12, 2023.
Some Christians try to function independently because that’s easier than living in humility, gentleness, and patience with fellow believers. But we need each other. The fellowship of believers is an important part of God’s design for our spiritual growth.
Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, June 15, 2019.
Not everyone has the privilege of attending a large family reunion in their lifetime. Many families are widely dispersed and have lost touch with one another. But when large families get together and meet distant cousins, they have no trouble bonding. Why? Because they share a common heritage.
Strangers in the body of Christ should be that way – distant spiritual cousins who bond immediately. After all, we have “one body and one Spirit…one hope…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). Unfortunately, Christians too often stick to their own ‘families’ – Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and so on. The world looks at the body of Christ and wonders why we can’t seem to get along better than we do. The early church, in its pre-denominational days, was known for its oneness and unity. It is a characteristic every Christian should work hard to restore to Christ’s body.
When you meet Christians who are strangers, give them the right hand of fellowship. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a taste of eternal unity right here on earth.
Commentary from Pathways Devotional by David Jeremiah, July 31.
The need for believers to care for the poor is a constant theme of Scripture, but often we do nothing about it. We get caught up in meeting our own needs and desires, or we just don’t see enough poor people to remember their needs. Both in your own city and across the oceans there are people who need help. What can you do to show them tangible evidence of God’s love?
Commentary from The One Year NIV Devotional NT, May 23. Tyndale House Publishers. 2003.
-Word- pictures by DLink 