The following is the devotion that I presented during our district clergy gatherings in August. In response to requests from some individuals, I’ve decided to share it in the newsletter for those who couldn’t attend.
“12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by [a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are
indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that
there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” -1 Cor. 12:12-14; 21-27
“24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” -Hebrews 10:24-25
During the pandemic, God reminded us of the importance of our human connection. It was a difficult time for all of us. We didn’t know much about this virus called COVID-19. Many people
died from it. What made it even more difficult for us was social isolation. We had to keep our distance from one another. We had to refrain from common tangible ways of feeling connected to
one another, such as hugging, handshaking, and eating together, etc. As much as we saw physical harm done by the virus, we saw mental and emotional harm caused by this isolation. Going
through the pandemic, God brought me to a new sense of appreciation for our human connection.
Likewise, during this time of disruption caused by disaffiliation, God reminds us of the importance of our church connection. It has been a difficult time for all of us, especially for those of us who had to witness all the discord among fellow Christians and experience the traumatizing loss of a precious part of us. Going through this time of disruption, God brought me to a new sense of appreciation for our church connection.
I believe that, through all these challenging moments, most of us (if not all) have learned to appreciate one another’s presence more deeply than before. I want to take this opportunity to say “Thank you” to all of you. Thank you for staying faithful to the Lord and to one another. Many people gave up on us and walked away from our shared table, but we remain as the church committed to the love of Christ who never gives up on us.
At times, we wish that someone or some people were not in our community. But God teaches us that we do not become holy by removing people from our lives. We walk in holiness by embracing the love of Christ, who never gives up on anyone. When we are committed to this love, we never walk away from but embrace one another. In this love that never gives up, we are truly united.
- We are united, not because we are uniform in our opinions on everything.
- We are united because God, who unites us, is greater than anything that may divide us.
- We are united in loving and serving the Lord and our neighbors as the Church, Christ’s body.
- We are united because we share our identity in Christ. Remember, whether Jews or Gentiles, male or female, whatever distinctions we may find among us, in Christ Jesus, we are one.
Just as the Apostle Paul states, we cannot say to one another, “I don’t need you.” God has put us together not without a reason. We need one another. We are given one another as a precious gift
from God. Let us not take this precious gift for granted. Let us be grateful and cherish it.
Just as Hebrews 10 encourages, let us be diligent in meeting together and encouraging one another. If one of us suffers, let us weep together. If one of us is honored, let us rejoice together.
May we all restore our fellowship on every level with God and with one another and be the church as God’s beloved community for all. Amen.
