I wonder if most of us realize just how interconnected the various parts of our bodies are? Sure, we can easily see that our arms and legs attach to our main torso, and that hair grows out of our scalp; well for some hair still grows out of the scalp :-) The point is that our bodies are wonderful machines, if you will, that work in an intricately amazing way.
If you stop and think about the various systems of the body and how they work in harmony with each other you cannot help but be impressed by God's handiwork. If you want a stark reminder of just how connected the parts of the body are, sustain an injury to one of them. Take the back for instance. The back is connected to at least the muscular, skeletal, nervous, circulatory, and lymphatic systems--there may be more but I am not a doctor or medical professional. I found out this week in a pronounced way how some of those systems "announce" when something is wrong.
I was working in my study at one of the churches and simply bent forward to retrieve an item from my computer bag. As I bent over I heard a "pop" sound come from my lower back. It was similar to the sound your joints make when your knuckles crack. I knew right away that something was wrong. I sat back and continued to work for a bit, but when I got up my nervous system screamed out and told me there was a problem. Because the nervous system was getting signals for pain in my back the muscles reacted by refusing to move in such a way that would increase the pain sensation. In simple terms, when my back sustained the injury the rest of my body had to compensate and adjust with it because the various parts and systems of the body are interconnected an inseparable.
As Christians, we are also interconnected and inseparable as the body of Christ. And like the human body, when a member of the body of Christ hurts it effects us all. When we see a fellow believer hurting it should move us to compassion for them, it should move us to want to comfort them. The hard part about this process is that many times the "injuries" are not visible to the naked eye. More often than not the injuries are internal within the heart of the believer with a more spiritual or emotional aspect.
So how do we know if people are hurting or injured when it is not totally obvious? We spend time with them. We get to know them so that they trust us and open up to us. Once people know that we care about them they are more willing to share what is troubling them. Sure, we may not always have the answers for all their problems but we don't have to have all the answers. Many times people just want someone to talk to and bounce ideas off of. How many of us have figured out a situation just by talking it through out loud?
The point is this: Christians cannot go through life as an island unto themselves. We have an obligation to reach out to one another and try to help as we see hurting in our midst. If we are tuned into the needs of others it allows us to focus less on our own problems. When we do this it is amazing how much better we feel. There is a joy that comes from helping others. I would even go so far as to say there is a blessing to be had in helping others. I would challenge each of us to look for ways that we can be a blessing to someone else. I know some of us are already doing this, but I know there are many who need a gentle reminder to pay more attention to the members within the body of Christ. Christ is the One that connects us and He is the One who will sustain us if we live for Him. Why not begin today looking for ways you can be a blessing to others?
Our Father Who is in heaven,
Thank You for being so gracious and wonderful toward us in that You sent Your only begotten Son to save all who will accept Him. Forgive us, please, for not being tuned in to the needs of others more, and please teach us to watch for ways that we can be a blessing and a help to our fellow man. We pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.
If you stop and think about the various systems of the body and how they work in harmony with each other you cannot help but be impressed by God's handiwork. If you want a stark reminder of just how connected the parts of the body are, sustain an injury to one of them. Take the back for instance. The back is connected to at least the muscular, skeletal, nervous, circulatory, and lymphatic systems--there may be more but I am not a doctor or medical professional. I found out this week in a pronounced way how some of those systems "announce" when something is wrong.
I was working in my study at one of the churches and simply bent forward to retrieve an item from my computer bag. As I bent over I heard a "pop" sound come from my lower back. It was similar to the sound your joints make when your knuckles crack. I knew right away that something was wrong. I sat back and continued to work for a bit, but when I got up my nervous system screamed out and told me there was a problem. Because the nervous system was getting signals for pain in my back the muscles reacted by refusing to move in such a way that would increase the pain sensation. In simple terms, when my back sustained the injury the rest of my body had to compensate and adjust with it because the various parts and systems of the body are interconnected an inseparable.
As Christians, we are also interconnected and inseparable as the body of Christ. And like the human body, when a member of the body of Christ hurts it effects us all. When we see a fellow believer hurting it should move us to compassion for them, it should move us to want to comfort them. The hard part about this process is that many times the "injuries" are not visible to the naked eye. More often than not the injuries are internal within the heart of the believer with a more spiritual or emotional aspect.
So how do we know if people are hurting or injured when it is not totally obvious? We spend time with them. We get to know them so that they trust us and open up to us. Once people know that we care about them they are more willing to share what is troubling them. Sure, we may not always have the answers for all their problems but we don't have to have all the answers. Many times people just want someone to talk to and bounce ideas off of. How many of us have figured out a situation just by talking it through out loud?
The point is this: Christians cannot go through life as an island unto themselves. We have an obligation to reach out to one another and try to help as we see hurting in our midst. If we are tuned into the needs of others it allows us to focus less on our own problems. When we do this it is amazing how much better we feel. There is a joy that comes from helping others. I would even go so far as to say there is a blessing to be had in helping others. I would challenge each of us to look for ways that we can be a blessing to someone else. I know some of us are already doing this, but I know there are many who need a gentle reminder to pay more attention to the members within the body of Christ. Christ is the One that connects us and He is the One who will sustain us if we live for Him. Why not begin today looking for ways you can be a blessing to others?
Our Father Who is in heaven,
Thank You for being so gracious and wonderful toward us in that You sent Your only begotten Son to save all who will accept Him. Forgive us, please, for not being tuned in to the needs of others more, and please teach us to watch for ways that we can be a blessing and a help to our fellow man. We pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.
I like this, Reaching out to others is what Social work is all about! :) By the way, its been a really long time since you have sent one of these devos out! I miss reading them!
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