Stay Out of this Heat!

I recently was speaking with a co-worker about one of new projects and when we were hanging up she said “ hey, you stay out of this heat, ok?” I responded quickly: “I was born for the heat. I don’t mind it.” She laughed and said well then the next time I see you’ll have a good tan!” I laughed and then we hung up. For some reason as soon as the call ended I remembered a gecko I saw yesterday when I was walking into a tennis lesson. It shot right past us on the ground and darted behind a trash can for cover. It was blur! Reptiles move faster the warmer the weather gets. They regulate their temperature by moving in and out of the sun and shade, but we know that when it is cold, they hibernate. They live for hot weather. They were born for it. When my co-worker told me to stay out of the heat, I knew what she was saying, “Try to stay cool and comfortable. Shelter in and find some air conditioning to enjoy!” It is a thoughtful saying, but I wonder if Christians are looking for comfortable environments when the heat of life gets turned up. We are called to the heat of battle, the battle to live godly lives. We were literally reborn for it! But does the world see that from us or do they see us running for the hills?

When we see injustice, do we act or find a comfortable spot in the shade watching for someone else to defend the helpless? We know the body of Christ is being divided more and more every day. Are we doing our part in fighting the tide by finding ways to reunite the church? We often fail to prioritize our time with the Lord, praying to Him and studying His words. So another question, how many of us are coming out with innovative ways to make the Bible come alive for believers including living lives according to it or supporting those who currently are? We can’'t continue to run from the heat of struggle, guaranteed persecution, or the fear of being rejected by our friends and family. If we don’t do the work necessary to reap this ripe harvest, who will? The world? Certainly not. And here’s the ongoing truth, God is relentlessly looking for laborers. How will you respond to His call?

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Isaiah 6:8

Each of us has gifts given to us by our Father to minister to the church. Some of us are hospitable, some of us are teachers, some of us are artists, others are writers, cooks, engineers, nurses, event planners, accountants, attorneys, web designers, bakers, home owners, business owners, encouragers, farmers, and many other necessary parts of the body. Are you active in your membership of God’s church? And no that is not primarily or exclusively in the church building. How are you serving God’s people during the week outside of church organized events?

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

We literally need you to join the battle! We need you to be an active member of the body. We need you to feed the flock with your gifts and talents. Don’t know where to start? Join us. We are looking for people who have gifts they want to bless others with! Community Minded exists to help unite the body of Christ here in Atlanta through unique gatherings. If you want to hear more, reach out to us here. 

Stay in the heat of this struggle to bless God’s people and love the world we live in. We are better united than divided. Will you help?