He is the Head . . .

Our church is large making it impossible to have intimate fellowship with everyone, never mind knowing all their names. For that reason, small groups are encouraged. Ours meets weekly and we have become close as we study and discuss God’s Word and pray for common concerns. Teasing is allowed, as are tears. Our worship and sharing last night was joyful and edifying and so it should be!

(God) put all things under (Christ’s) feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22–23)

The analogy is a body with Christ as the head and His people are His Body. The NT says it elsewhere, telling us to “hold fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God” (Colossians 2:19) and:

“. . . speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15–16)

The longer description is in 1 Corinthians 12, listing some of the difficulties in Christian relationships using the same analogy. For instance, a foot should never say they are not a hand so are not part of the body because each person, like each body part, is necessary for proper and healthy functioning. This applies to our spiritual gifts, personalities, experiences, and the sharing of what God is doing in our lives.

Today’s devotional puts an emphasis on the church being “the fullness of him who fills all in all” meaning that the full glory of Jesus Christ is completed in the degree that His glory is reflected in us His Body. We are to complement Him in whom “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9) so that His grace and truth are made visible in this fallen world.

It’s true that we fall short far too often. Before Christ came into our lives, nothing could be more obvious. However, as Christians we now battle sin rather than giving in to it. That old life is dead to the things of God yet taunted and pulled by the ideas of the world, the lies of the devil, and mostly by a mess of old ‘I wants’ that draw us away from our Head into running our own lives. To this, God says:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:16–17)

This personal battle is overcome only by yielding to God, for we cannot resist sin any other way. Many Christians testify that the worst of it is failing to realize we have fallen into running our own lives, at least in the least conspicuous ways.

However, our Head, Lord and Savior has ways of informing His Body that there is sickness and pain among us. He uses His Word, the Holy Spirit, and being with one another to do it. Just as “iron sharpens iron” we sharpen one another. (Proverbs 27:17) That is the value of small groups and deep fellowship.

Not only that, the desire to glorify the Lord is contagious. If one person is set on complimenting Christ and adorning His teaching, others are motivated to turn from personal ambitions to do the same. We encourage one another to “let our light shine before others in such a way that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We also encourage one another by reminding each other that God gives us all that we need to glorify the Lord. (2 Peter 1:3-12)

Jesus, Psalm 139:23–24 tells me to ask You to reveal sin that hinders me from glorifying You. I’m learning not to dread what You might show me, but also learning how each part of the Body helps me to be a stronger and more obedient Christian. Thank You for Your leadership as Head of Your church and the wonderful way that You enable us to work together in doing Your will.

MORE: What are the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:1–30? What answers those who think their gifts are less valuable that others? How am I gifted to minister to other? In what ways does that show up in my fellowship with them and my life in this world?

 

Eyes on context = eyes on Jesus

Context is important. Consider the words, “Rise up and protest!” and how they would words affect a crowd who did not want a certain law passed, or a group of seniors in wheel chairs who didn’t like the dessert served in their retirement home, or a few teens who hate their math teacher, or a little child trying to tie his shoes.

Context is particularly important when reading the Bible. In the following verses, Jesus is talking to a crowd of people who do not know who He is. He is not talking to His disciples or even to the religious Pharisees . . .

So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. (John 12:34–36)

Chambers applies this warning to Christians. Sorry sir, but Jesus has other words about light and darkness for those who believe in Him. He shone His light in our hearts. We have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God. His light has changed our lives. We need to walk in the light and believe it, but we already are the “sons of light” and we know who Jesus is.

“For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5)

The Apostle Paul testified to King Agrippa — that he had been delivered from his people and the Gentiles . . .  “to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26:17–18)

Darkness is not going to overtake Christians. That said, how does the Christian apply these words that Jesus said? For one thing, they describe how to talk to those who have little understanding about Jesus or spiritual matters. They have heard something about God’s law and something about Jesus. They have a bit of light in their life, only a small knowledge, but they need to be encouraged to pursue it.

For example, I met a woman from a religious background that shunned her because she had been divorced. She knew that I was writing a biblical column for the local newspaper and as we talked, I told her I had been divorced also. She was surprised and delighted, almost shedding tears. I’d already observed that she was a gracious lady and thankful for everything. I told her that the Bible (Romans 1) says that creation shows us who God is, and being thankful is an important part of learning more about Him. She was overwhelmed to recognize that her thankfulness is something God wants and that she was on a good path. Her divorce could not keep her from knowing God.

Walking in the light that God gives is like walking a dim path with a flashlight. Each step takes me forward and with it, the light also moves forward. God illuminates the next step in the path, then the next step. If I do not move into the light I have, I won’t get very far. However, the darkness does not remove my understanding of where I am going or that I believe in the Giver of light. He is there with me, in light or darkness, and promises that He will never leave me or forsake me. Psalm 139 says light and darkness are both alike to Him.

Without considering the context, my focus today could have turned to my spiritual condition and raised questions about whether or not I am walking in the light. Such inward thinking without the conviction of the Holy Spirit takes my eyes off Jesus. Instead of moving forward, I stand still in confusion and fear rather than letting Him show me if I’m off the path.

What delight (and light) to consider the context of Jesus’ words. He reveals to me a need some people have, and one way to help them consider the light God has given them. This results in both of us turning our eyes on Jesus and moving toward Him.

To Live is Christ — means that internals and externals match

Good manners are measured by what you do when you think no one is looking. I don’t know who said it, but I like the description. It is about integrity, about being who I am all the time, not to impress people or to appear better than I am.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

At Christmas, some parents tell their children that Santa sees who is naughty or nice. Obviously they are hoping the child will be nice and thereby profit by their good behavior.

Some parents even tell their children that God knows what they do even if no one else can see them. Sometimes this is used as a threat, and if a child hears it often enough and takes it to heart, that child might reach adulthood immobilized by a misconception of God’s attitude toward them.

Psalm 139 tells me that God knows when I sit down or stand up, which seems a no brainer, but He also knows what I am going to do or say before I do it. Of course I agree with the psalmist that such knowledge is too wonderful for me.

The idea of an all-knowing God could be threatening. If I didn’t know that God also loves me and will forgive even my sinful thoughts, then I might cower in fear that He will be angry at me all the time. While the Bible says to fear God, He doesn’t want me to be afraid of Him in that way.

Instead, I’ve found that God wants my awe, but He also wants me to simply be honest with Him and with everyone else. Our word for that is integrity.

Integrity is illustrated in the book of Job. Although he complained (he did have a rough go of it) and had a huge pity party, God says he never lost his integrity. This puzzled me until I realized that Job was an honest man. If he felt crappy and was angry at God, he said so. He had no put-on spirituality or pious pretense in his life.

For me that means that true spirituality is also like good manners — my spiritual life could be measured by what I am thinking, saying and doing, even when no one is noticing. It is being totally transparent before God too. There is no point in a false pious demeanor in front of One who can see right through me anyway.