Grape in the Press: One Body in the Church

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work 2 Tim 3:14-17 NIV

 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:5

Not alot of time but I woke up with a inspiration down this line. 

I thought of wine grapes.

Imagine the Church as a winepress. We all become blended as one. With age, trial and tests this effort brings out good wine.

Too many times as a wine grape --it does not look attractive to loose your round form to this effort. You do not want to be a squished pulpy mass--urgghh. You peek out of the tub and see other grapes in the Master's vineyard and wonder if they have to sacrifice their liberty and shape as you have to. You can not see what the Master's plan for them---maybe they are to be raisin or eatable grapes in His kingdom. Maybe they are not fully ripe for his plan or that they will be processed in a tub of persecution.

When I think of us as a people--our goal is to blend our efforts as one body grounded in the Word of God. When we reach out to others it can then be as a mighty hand reaching out. When we pray it can be as a body of prayers ascending to the throne of grace. It is evidence of our self-life is harnessed and on its way to die on a cross when we become blended with our brethren. We do not do God or the Church service to setting off as lone rangers against the evil that is set about us. Other sheep that are not of this fold require a body like ours reaching out with prayer,hope and light so they too can benefit. 

Group worship will not save our individual souls, but is a great asset to fighting the evil one. The carefulness we see in our Church is one to be coveted highly. Careful to prove the Word. Careful to prove the spirits. Careful to seek the Lord's face. Where else can we find such a body to entrust our families in.

Today's test is when we seek liberties by shrugging off our responsibility to the Church by observing other's that we perceive as Christians. Praise God if they are, but that does not lessen our responsibility to our brethren. In dealing with other Christians I rejoice with them but as to their responsibilities in the kingdom I had to think of Apostle Peter's discourse with Christ about Apostle John. 

Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. John 21:21-22 KJV 

Also

 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Luke 9:49-50

  To honor Christ with a meek spirit is to engage the Pentecost spirit and blend as one. That is they way we can reach more effectively to the outreach around us. 

The Church is not perfect and we will see constantly the human element, but then we need to take responsibility of prayer and be willing to voice our concerns in a open way. When I say "open way" that means to also be open to step down after we have voiced our concerns. Also in a "open way" as that we speak "face to face" responsibly and not behind backs. That's real humility in practice to be prayerfully open.

Let us fully embrace the Church as we know it as our God given responsibility, holding nothing back. Give and take reproof. To help and to be helped. Feel the excitement of collective prayer and effort to follow the Holy Spirit and reach out and feel the needs of others around us. In this way we will be better equipped to accept and fulfill  the responsibility of the Great Commission to the saving of souls from the wrath to come. I feel so inadequate yet I feel more and more as one with my brethren as we are all reaching out to a common goal of seeking the face of God.

Truly Written in Weakness-JLT