Be the Body
O Church of God, rise up and be the body of Christ. Don’t leave the work to the clergy. Don’t acquit yourself of responsibilities because you have no paycheck or title. Be to each other and the world Christ in action. Mimic what you see on Sundays every day.
Don’t leave the proclamations to preachers. Proclaim to your brothers and sisters the truths the Lord teaches you weekly. Say His truths every day. Write them on the tablets of your hearts and teach them to your children. Say them to your friends and your neighbors. Be God’s mouthpiece like Moses—who stuttered—and obeyed anyway.
O Church of God, don’t leave the singing to choirs. Sing and worship every day and make music to the Lord. Allow God to make your life a song to others. And practice singing God-truths to your brothers and sisters during the work week. Just like on Sundays, sing all week long, so your music compels others to join in.
O Church of God, don’t leave the serving to deacons. As the deacons serve your church body, do to those who are weaker and without and lonely. Give to all who ask just as the Lord has given to you. Do it even if you’re not on a committee because this is how you are the body of Christ.
O Church of God, don’t leave spiritual discernment to an elder board. Daily decide to listen for God’s voice, to seek his direction even if it means sweating blood and saying, “Not my will but thine be done.” Take hold of Holy Spirit power to rule and reign by following Christ in His suffering, surrendering, and giving up for another to thrive because that is how you are united in the body of Christ. Do every day for others as your leaders do for your church.
O Church of God, don’t leave confessing to sinners. Be the first in line to lay down the week’s stingy storehouses, the spurts of bitterness, the jealous glances, fearful clutchings, and lustful musings. In this, we lead the way to the cross for the world to follow. Just like you ask the sinners to do at your altar calls, do in your heart every day.
And Church of God, don’t leave prayer to prayer warriors. Every one of you was given the Word in the flesh and the word of scripture. And each of you is a word spoken by God, sharp and piercing like a shaft of light in a dark room. Speak the prayers in your heart during your comings and goings, both for yourself and others. Do it now, from this hour on and forever more.
O Church of God, what is play-acted on Sundays is not for the elite or the chosen or special saints. Your church’s servants model Christ’s body in action. They remind us of the tempo at which we are to march the other six days of the week. Hear the beat, remember God’s tempo, and continue Christ’s march into the world.
Excellent!
Oh, this is so good. Thanks, Abby.