Not Only When We Want to Be

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23, 24 NIV)

I was reading some devotional material this morning by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and I came across this very profound line:

We are members of one body not only when we want to be, but in our whole existance.

If we are a part of the Church, then we ARE a part of the one body... in everything we do, or don't do.     And everything we do, or don't do, affects the whole body.  If we have been called to be a hand or a foot or lips, we cannot just decide to not be.  We will just become non-functioning body parts.  And non-functioning body parts are a drain on the rest of the body.  They require time and energy and they force other body parts to do their job.  And a foot simply does not make good lips!

If you are reading this, most likely you ARE part of the body.  The question is, are you a functioning part of the body?  Ask God to show you your work.

Lord,
We really want to be active, functioning parts of your body, but so many things hold us back... mostly fear.  Help us to find our function and do our best to support the rest of the body.  Amen.

Joys:  Richard at home Thursday or Friday!  So excited!; Emma schedule to arrive right around the same time!; last day of work befor vacation