Living in the Spirit
June 14, 2018
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-17
So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil. –2 Corinthians 5:6-10
Paul talks about the body almost as an abstract entity. He apparently perceived of himself as complete without the body but seemed to have drawn a job assignment to be the best he could be within the body. I, of course, may be seeing something in the above scripture that is not there. I tend to think of myself as the sum of all my parts.
On first reading this scripture, I thought Paul was talking about our being the Body of Christ, but I do not think that is the case. I do think what he says could apply to both our individual bodies and the Body of Christ.
I have never been particularly coordinated and I was a sickly kid. So most of my life I have had to work around the limitations of my body developing skills with the parts that worked the best. I do think God expects us to utilize our skills fully whatever they might be. The key in this scripture is whether we use them for good or evil.
The same could be said about our role as part of the Body of Christ doing Christ’s work together here on earth. This role not only demands that we do the best with what and who we are as individuals but that we do it with all the other bodies that are a part of the Body of Christ and we do it for good.
Christ calls us exactly to such a oneness. The closer we get to it, greater synergy results; the combined effect becomes greater than the sum of our separate effects. Synergy occurs in such instances of combined effect for both good and evil. The addition of Christ’s presence tilts the outcome toward good.
For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’ –Matthew 18:20
Prayer: Lord, help us each develop fully the skills and talents which you gave us and make us one in sharing them. Amen.