Thoughts for the Day

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ....

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In one of my books on the "Sermon Slot" I remember writing an activity, and trying it out with a group of clergy. It required everyone to be a body part - an arm, or a leg, or an ear, or a mouth etc. They were then given a task, to rescue someone from a beach and get them to the hospital.

It was hilarious. People would say "We need to call an ambulance" and then proceed to try and make a call from a telephone box (it was a long time ago!), only to discover that they had forgotten to take the person who was the mouth, or the hand etc, with them. The conclusion was that they had to work together as a group to achieve the task.

St Paul is describing the Church. Each of us has a different task. While I am writing these Thoughts, who is talking to those who haven't got a computer? Who is keeping in touch with the rest of the church via phone? We are good at making sure people have food, but what about listening to others, supporting all those who were going to church but who are on their own, or possibly the only Christian in a household? We each have a job to do, and God wants us to do it!

Tuesday 15th September, follow up thoughts

Lord Jesus,
You call us and give us a job.
Open our eyes and our ears
to find the job and do it.
We know that we are Your
people in the world today,
but help us not to sit
quietly in the background
when we should be
carrying out Your work.
Amen.