Grace and Peace to you!
Once again it is time for athletes from around the globe to gather to compete in the Summer Olympics. Every four years the world is entertained by the strength, coordination and endurance of athletes as we become amazed at what they can get their bodies to do.
There are those who will draw the comparisons of the Church, the body of Christ, to that of the body of an Olympic athlete: strength, coordination and endurance.
As we, the body of Christ, grow up into Christ, who is the head, we need strength. Paul writes to the Ephesian Christians to not allow themselves to be “tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine.” In other words, Paul is reminding us of how it is important for us to be strong in our convictions.
We find strength in knowing that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, restores our relationship with God, gives us victory over sin, death and the devil. We gain strength in knowing that Jesus lived an exemplary life for us to follow. And this life that we have been given is lived in relationship with God – as it is what humanity is created for. We discover strength in knowing that our God is a God of grace and love. We are saved by grace through faith. It is a gift from and of God.
The church is coordinated by its variety of gifts. Paul shares a few examples from life pointing out that some people have been called to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. It does not matter what we have been called to do, every one of us has talents and abilities. With our varied gifts, God has called us into his family, and God has given us a place and opportunity to use our specific gifts and talents.
Of course, a person can be strong and coordinated, but if he or she doesn’t have any endurance, then they won’t go very far and they won’t win the race. As body of Christ, it is important for us to endure. We endure by living together in humility, continue in loving each other, and strive for unity.
Yes, we each can still be different – we do not need to believe, think and act identically. But it is necessary for us to acknowledge our differences and respect each other. We do this in remembering that we are all people of one Lord, one faith, one baptism rather than focusing only on our differences. We are to accept others (warts and all) because we know that they will do the same for us.
None of us are the Christian that we should be, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we get closer. In that respect, we are all like athletes in training. We are growing stronger, more coordinated, and with greater endurance. We are developing into the body that our head, Jesus, wants us to be. Until we become as Christ would want us, individually and collectively, let us continue in loving, serving, and sharing the grace of God.
In Christ!
Pastor Bakker
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 (NRSV)
Once again it is time for athletes from around the globe to gather to compete in the Summer Olympics. Every four years the world is entertained by the strength, coordination and endurance of athletes as we become amazed at what they can get their bodies to do.
There are those who will draw the comparisons of the Church, the body of Christ, to that of the body of an Olympic athlete: strength, coordination and endurance.
As we, the body of Christ, grow up into Christ, who is the head, we need strength. Paul writes to the Ephesian Christians to not allow themselves to be “tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine.” In other words, Paul is reminding us of how it is important for us to be strong in our convictions.
We find strength in knowing that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, restores our relationship with God, gives us victory over sin, death and the devil. We gain strength in knowing that Jesus lived an exemplary life for us to follow. And this life that we have been given is lived in relationship with God – as it is what humanity is created for. We discover strength in knowing that our God is a God of grace and love. We are saved by grace through faith. It is a gift from and of God.
The church is coordinated by its variety of gifts. Paul shares a few examples from life pointing out that some people have been called to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. It does not matter what we have been called to do, every one of us has talents and abilities. With our varied gifts, God has called us into his family, and God has given us a place and opportunity to use our specific gifts and talents.
Of course, a person can be strong and coordinated, but if he or she doesn’t have any endurance, then they won’t go very far and they won’t win the race. As body of Christ, it is important for us to endure. We endure by living together in humility, continue in loving each other, and strive for unity.
Yes, we each can still be different – we do not need to believe, think and act identically. But it is necessary for us to acknowledge our differences and respect each other. We do this in remembering that we are all people of one Lord, one faith, one baptism rather than focusing only on our differences. We are to accept others (warts and all) because we know that they will do the same for us.
None of us are the Christian that we should be, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we get closer. In that respect, we are all like athletes in training. We are growing stronger, more coordinated, and with greater endurance. We are developing into the body that our head, Jesus, wants us to be. Until we become as Christ would want us, individually and collectively, let us continue in loving, serving, and sharing the grace of God.
In Christ!
Pastor Bakker
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 (NRSV)