Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Body of Christ

1Corinthians 12:36  - And if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; and if one member be glorified, all the members rejoice with it.

As the news continues in the progress of the families suffering the loss of loved ones in Sunday's accident, my heart is aching as the fullness of all that has happened is sinking in.  I did not know this family, but because we are one in the Lord they are part of the body of Christ. When one part of the body is hurt, the entire body feels the pain.

Yesterday the wife of the man who died had the the difficult task of telling the surviving children their father and brother went to be with Jesus.  I can't possibly imagine the intense pain physically and emotionally they are going through.  And my heart aches.  Her words to our pastor were, "Jesus will see us through this."  I fight back tears just writing this.  I remember what I wrote yesterday about her husband "unabashedly loving his wife."  The love of Christ was so evident through that statement and that love was strong in this whole family.  It appears their life was based on the solid foundation of Christ.

What must the family whose children were in the car with them be feeling?  We were told some of the family members gave their lives to the Lord Sunday night.  Amid all the pain, there is hope for that family.  If they continue to seek God's guidance during this tragedy, they too will find the peace that passes all understanding.

First Corinthians talks about the Body of Christ.  As believers who have given our lives to our Lord Jesus Christ, we are now one in the Lord.  We are one body of believers, one in spirit.  We are all given different gifts within this body and each person has a different role within the Body.   

It will be hard to live without the parts of our body that have been taken away.  But in time the wounds will heal.  Through this tragedy we have lost three parts of our body but there are other parts being added at the same time through this difficult time.  We will never understand why these things happen in our lives.  That's why it is important to know that God's ways are higher than ours.  There is a higher purpose. It's our relationship with our heavenly Father that carries us through these times.  Jesus is in the midst of this comforting and strengthening those who need it and rejoicing with those in heaven with Him today.  

I thank God for a relationship that brings peace in the midst of trial.  The wounds will heal slowly and certainly not without pain, but our Lord will be praised.  We are to remember that God and His ways are always good.

Nahum 1:7 and Romans 8:28 - The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.


Heavenly Father, again I ask that you minister to these two families.  The days ahead will be difficult but with You by their side they will see the hope that lies ahead.  I thank you in the midst of all this for Your wisdom, Your guidance for these families.  Let our family of believers bring comfort through prayer and encouragement.  It is upon Your strength we lean.  Heal their bodies and spirits.   Be the minds, eyes and hands of all the doctors and nurses assigned to them.  Most of all, Lord, thank that Your presence will be with them always.  In Your precious name we pray, Jesus.  Amen.

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