There’s a lot going on in our world, and most of it is far from the Will of God. It is apparent to many of us that the world can be incredibly cruel and dangerous, and we all must be exceedingly careful in everything we do. Many people are feeling overwhelmed by all of this. They are mentally and emotionally exhausted. Although it may not be readily apparent, more people than we can imagine are feeling a level of vulnerability and anxiety than they ever have before. Some of them are panicking, and as individuals that are spiritually mature, now is the time for us to pour on the compassion, faith, generosity, and encouragement of Christ.
As the spiritually mature in Christ, we have a greater responsibility to let our lights shine before others. The reality of our authority and power through his accomplished works must continually flow from our hearts to impact the lives of those of lesser faith. We all belong to this wonderful new entity that our Heavenly Father has made possible through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s called the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head and we are his body. He has given us new life and with this new life is a new way of functioning as part of his body. It is not about the “ME” and is all about the “WE”. It’s about relationships, and we are to relate to one another lovingly in the spirit of unity in Christ!
In Romans 12, God gives us the requirements and standards for the Body of Christ. He commands that we present our whole lives as a holy and acceptable living sacrifice to Him. This is the least we can do for all He’s done for us. He warns us not to copy the customs and culture of society and the world, instead we must walk by the Spirit, so we learn how to please God.
In Romans 12:4-5(NLT) we learn, “4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” As members of the Body of Christ, God is telling us that we are all connected through His Son, Jesus Christ, and we all belong to one another because of the Spirit of Christ that lives within us. This is a foreign concept to those who belong to the world. Whether its race, social and economic background, or educational standing, society teaches polarization and separatism based on whatever strikes the fancy of those in power. But God teaches us unity in Christ that is based on our faith in him and not on the things the world deems important. So, we must be accepting of our brothers and sisters in Christ and learn to operate out of love and kindness for one another.
Heavenly Father instructs us in Romans 12:10-11(NLT), “10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” This passage represents the beautiful harmony that God has orchestrated within the hearts of His children. Because of the Spirit of Christ that dwells within us, we can really love people. It’s not that surface love that is dependent on aesthetics, wealth, status, and power. It’s a genuine love that comes from God. But we must also remember that this is a choice. We can choose to grow in the love of Christ and be patient, loving, and tenderhearted, or we remain stuck in old habit patterns that don’t produce the Spirit’s fruit.
This choice to love with the heart of Christ is one that is not all about our words; it’s rooted in our actions. Romans 15:1-2(MSG) teaches, “Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?””
One of the ways we can truly be of service to people is to show them our trust in God. Their hearts desperately need a witness of fully developed faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It doesn’t help anyone to repeat the negative speculations and propaganda spewing from all forms of media these days. This is not the Will of God. Our mission is to say what God says, to uplift and encourage others in His goodness. They need to know that there’s an alternative to being paralyzed by fear, and it’s to trust God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. Tell someone about God’s goodness, and let it be your mission every day. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by
“Tell Someone About God’s Goodness” written by Reverend Fran Mack, edited by Kim Times, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2022. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!