Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“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. 13 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. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 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? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 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." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 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, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God… (I Corinthians 12:12-28, NKJV)
When I wrote the first Now Think On This - Restoration of Relationships message last week on the Lord wanting to restore relationships, I thought it was a one-time deal. But this morning in my time with Him (Nov. 5, 2018, at 4:45 am) He, the Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh, said there was a Part II to be written.
So, as it is my desire to hear and obey the Lord, Who knows all, this is Part II. (You can read Part I here: Restoration of Relationships Part I.
Briefly, in Restoration of Relationships Part I, I made a comparison that as the Lord God of Israel was returning His chosen ones back to the Promised Land (Eretz Yisrael – the land of Israel), so He simultaneously was also drawing His church Body back together. As with Israel in the natural, so with the Church in the spiritual. Within His Body on earth, He is bringing both believing Jew and Gentile back together as one, His One New Man, even as it was in the first century.
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| Joshua Aaron's "Bring Us Back" |
Personally, I can think of many whom I loved and walked within the past, in the several churches Laurie and I have been with.
Guys like Dave and Michelle, so giving of themselves in serving the leaders, and yet getting hurt, and leaving. Where are they now? Come back!
Mike, who could really play that electric guitar on the worship team Laurie and I led. Mike, come back!
And Bob and Bonnie – our “right arm joint”, who sought the Lord together in the Watch of the Lord so many days gone by. If you are not in a fellowship this day, somewhere, come back!
Kelly – I love you man! Restoration is always possible with our Lord Jesus!
I wholeheartedly believe it is the Lord’s immense heart, in these end of days, to bring restoration of relationships, from the years, maybe even decades or so ago, back together again. Restoration of these vital body joints, Body members that once were, are so needed together again. We can complete and fulfill the Lord’s plans and purposes. That is His ever-reaching out heart.
We know that the sadistic enemy does not play fair. He is evil, bankrupt, and continually seeks to “kill, steal and destroy.” But he doesn’t have the final say!
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (I Peter 5:8-11, NKJV)
Maybe you are one who at one time thrived in the church, but someone said something, did something, wrote something that put an arrow in your heart, and you walked away.
We have all experienced hurt, deception, being simply wronged. Yes, it hurt extremely, but we MUST forgive, we must forget, we must get back into that which we once knew. Our lives certainly depend on it. Our families depend on it. Others who have had the same experience as you need new life once again too. Come back!
Love covers a multitude of sins. Love restores. Love gives new vision.
Our God is the God of Love. And thus, so must we become that which He is.
And we will, for Jesus (Yeshua) already prayed it thus so, in John 17. His love, to bring unity to His joined people, will be well known and be brought to completion. He IS going to show the world the truth of His great compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.
“Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they'll be as unified and together as we are —
I in them and you in me.
Then they'll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you've sent me and loved them
In the same way you've loved me.”
(John 17:21-23, THE MESSAGE)
Guess what? I think Jesus’ prayer will be answered with a “Yeah and amen!” It will be another “It is finished!” moment.
This world has gotten dark. Real dark. Not only do we need each other to come back together and stand strong together, to be lights in the world, but those who don’t know the Lord need Him, and His united Body on earth.
It WILL happen! I hope you are a part of it too.
Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
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Now Think On This #364 - in the year of our Lord 11.05.18 – “Restoration of Relationships – Part II)”, Monday, 6:00 am
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