GROWING IN LOVE

As I was reflecting on a recent day, this passage summed up my thoughts as I was thinking about the theme of being the Body of Christ in light of some events.

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.  –Ephesians 4:15-16  (NLT)

We all belong to Christ, who is the head of the body of believers. That makes us members of the Body of Christ. What a privilege that is, my dear reader! God has given each of us special gifts to share with the Body of Christ to help build it into a stronger unit. With each of us doing our part, we help each member grow in love and become stronger in faith.

 

Do you often think you have nothing to offer others?

Do you wonder how you can make a difference?

Do you feel like you aren’t growing?

 

Know that with every prayer you offer, every act of kindness, and every time you reach out to encourage someone, you make a difference in the Body of Christ.  Whether you are young or old, rich or poor, you can help the Body of Christ grow in love and  be healthier.  Little things done in love make a great impact.

 

Photo courtesy of Chronic Joy® under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 2.0)

 

I was reflecting on a dear friend who has endured much suffering and continual pain for more than half of his 82 years on this earth. He has been wheelchair-bound for many years now, and his beautiful wife continues to take loving care of him.  Recently, he fell and was admitted to the hospital. Upon admittance, he tested positive for COVID, though he was asymptomatic. They placed him in the ICU, where he was quarantined for ten days. They were ten very long, lonely, dark days with no trace of outside light or physical contact with people. My heart ached for him and what he was enduring.

I have always been amazed at his positive attitude throughout the years, despite his circumstances. He is the perfect example of doing his part to help members of the Body of Christ grow in love. Through the years, he has tutored many students, helping them succeed and believe in themselves. He has been known to call widows weekly to check in on them. In fact, despite being in isolation, he kept to his schedule and reached out to at least one of them just like clockwork. He sends encouraging notes to let people know he is praying for them, and he has helped many students increase their knowledge by providing scholarships.

REFLECTION:

How have you helped someone during a dark time in their journey?

 

In the last three years or so, my life has been growing in love and with a deeper relationship with the Spirit because of the people God is putting in my path. Conversing with people strengthens my faith, challenges me to go deeper, and helps me see ways I can grow. God is filling me with more love for myself and for the Body of Christ. By sharing our stories and hearts, we can encourage and learn from one another. As a friend says, “We never travel alone.”  What a comfort and a blessing that is.

We all go through rough patches in our faith journey where we need a little more intervention from our fellow pilgrims. It is important to reach out in honesty to let a trusted person know when you are really struggling with life. That is what the Body of Christ is for. We can speak truth and life into someone’s life to encourage them when they cannot make it on their own.

REFLECTION:

Have you taken time to thank someone you can trust and share with when you are at your lowest point?

 

Photo courtesy of BK under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)

 

Be encouraged this week to…

…grow more like Christ in sharing love.

…remember that you are a special member of the Body of Christ that fits perfectly.

…do your special part so the Body grows in love and is healthier.

 

…challenge yourself to reach out in love to someone.

…reflect on how you are growing in love.

…see how you can contribute to the health of the Body of Christ.

 

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. –Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)