Ephesians 4:16
“from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”
The automatic dog feeder from Back to the Future is a marvel. However, the church is even more marvelous. It's a creation of millions of parts that are all fallible and self willed people. It involves more chaos that's in the rehearsal of a school play. We perform an action, feel bad, apologize and try again.
If we zero in on individual parts, we see ourselves. We're not sure what our part is. I can picture the director saying cut and talking to us. Today's passage says it's done in love. It can be the Spirit, or a friend in Christ. We get better.
In one sense we're not sure that we are part of something bigger. It's a miracle that we function at all. Like a creation put together from garage parts that barely holds together. On the other hand, it's a miracle that it does. Our God is assembling and directing. It's the body of Christ.
We are honored that Jesus puts His name on it. He even puts His face on it as He is the head. We shouldn't be too surprised, as He came and lived in humility to reach the lowly. Hebrews 2:11 says, "For both the One sanctifying and those being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers." He isn't ashamed of us. Even though we aren't perfect and at times wrong, He sticks with us.
As we go throughout our day, we come in contact with needs and do our best to help. These may be divine appointments in which God has prepared us and them. He is reaching out to all on the planet.
What an honor that He uses us. He would be far more efficient if He did it Himself or with an angel. However, He wants to build us up in the process. In turn, we are to build others up.
Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them." Another version uses the word masterpiece. God is proud of us. The world may mock, but He is happy. Individually and corporately we are His masterpiece.
He is magnetic, in turn we are as well. He attracts others to Him and us to become part of the body. They get converted and join the church. They have their place in the body of Christ. He begins His work of redemption on them. Heals them, loves them, restores them and sets them on their way.
Lord, thank You that You care so much for us and others. You use us to reach them. Together we become the church, His masterpiece.