Quote:
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others' faults because of your love. Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace. - Ephesians 4:1-3
We are all one body, we have the same spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there's only one God the Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all. - Ephesians 4:4-6
He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we can to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's son that we will be mature and full-grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature Christ. - Ephesians 4:11-13
Under his direction [Christ], the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. - Ephesians 4:16
So put away all falsehood and "tell your brother the truth" because we all belong to each other. - Ephesians 4:25
If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so the words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. - Ephesians 4:28-29
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, the kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:31
We are the body of Christ (Corinthians 12:12-14). I am just as much a part of that brother that struggles with drinking as I am a part of the pastor. We are all one and we are all there for each other. I am not worth more than the lowest sinner and I am not worth less than the pastor. Like Philippians 2:5-6 tells us, we need to have a mind set of a servant knowing that we are all part of the body of Christ. Despite what Satan tells us, we need to die to ourselves daily, take up the cross and follow Christ. Our job is to take care of each other and to love each other, just like Christ loves us.
Quote:
...And all of you, serve each other in humility, for "God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble." - 1 Peter 5:5
I know that the only good in my life is a direct result of Christ shining through me. So, I need to stop believing Satan's lie that I'm too good to help someone who doesn't seem to have it as together is me, or that I'm better than doing some lowly job.
No, my example needs to be Christ! He came from riches and glory and power beyond what any of us can imagine, so that he could save us. He didn't have his disciples do his work for him - he didn't choose a wealthy ruler for his parents so that he would live in comfort. No, He spent his life serving the lowest and the wickedest people in the world. He humbled himself as low as he could and showed an amazing love to his creation. A love like that is something I only wish I had. It's so incredible it doesn't make any sense to our flesh - which only desires to focus on our self. But now that we are part of God's body, God's love flows through us, and he asks us to use that love to serve each other and build up the body of Christ. (John 15:5 and John 15:9-12)
Quote:
"There are three things that will endure -faith, hope, and love -and the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13-13
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (The Body of Christ)
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
1 John 4:16-20
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