“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor the head to the feet, “I have no need of you. “No, those parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those parts of the body which we think are less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor. And our less respectable parts are treated with much more respect, whereas our more respectable parts have no need of this. But God has composed the body, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacks it,so that there should be no division in the body, but that the parts should have the same care for one another. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ and members individually.” (I Corinthians 12:21-27 Modern English Version)
In my college years while working at a local television station, part of my job was to mail out prepares news releases to numerous parties in the community. The heading was in bold print, “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.” If it meant stuffing thousands of envelopes, applying postage via the postage machine, and making a trip to the post office, that is exactly what I did. I knew that the content must have been very important for the recipients.
Well, today, I am sending this out an “IMMEDIATE RELEASE” to hundreds of people to convey one important message, that being, “These are days where your local church really needs you. You are an important part of the church body and whatever you do to sustain and steadily expand the growth of the body, you will be highly esteemed and evaluated as “Well done” in the eyes of the Lord.
Now, meditate on the opening scriptures and the oversized italicized words you just read in the preceding paragraph. As they used to say in elementary school, “Put your thinking cap on.” If so move, read the scriptural reference in its larger context found in I Corinthians 12. There is no “if so move” condition regarding the next thing you should do. Next, react to the “IMMEDIATE RELEASE” and forward this brief but important message to as many people as you can, especially those who need to resume being active in the church and whose return will prompt joy here and in heaven.
Including your individual, right reaction after you finish reflecting, perhaps by resending this meditation to others we will have a positive impact on the whole body. Be blessed!
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” (Aristotle)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King