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Body Life

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Marlo Jenkins

I spent the better part of this past Saturday in an exciting and encouraging environment… at Shalom Waterski Park. I had the opportunity to be coached and encouraged toward the goal of “six competition buoys” at 29 miles an hour (I made five – I only say this so I don’t mis-represent that I reached the goal of ‘six’). Today my shoulder and lat muscles are so sore I can hardly feed myself. As enjoyable as that was for me, there’s something that excites me even more. It’s the encouragement, person to person, that can (and should) happen within the context of a local church body.

It’s what the Apostle Paul wrote about in Philemon (vv. 4 – 7): “Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, ‘Oh, thank you, God!’ I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers. And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers.” (The Message Paraphrase)

I have been thinking recently about some inspiring and encouraging interactions I’ve had with people in our church family here at ECC. I’ve been excited and inspired by hearing about and/or observing:
– Men who want to grow in their relationship with God and who recognize the importance of “sharpening” & challenging one another to live God’s very best.
– Someone’s desire to grow in their prayer life and get to know God better.
– Individuals who are reordering their life’s priorities because they want their life to count.
– Children who show a serving heart and pitch in to help where there’s a need.
– Caring Christians who respond in practical ways to needs that they are made aware of in the lives of others.

That’s the church, as it should function. That’s New Testament Christianity! Hey, I know our church congregation is not perfect. I could have easily made the above list a list of “growth areas” within our church family. However, it’s probably more beneficial to be reminded of, and point out good things when they happen.

Who are you encouraging? Who are you building hope into? Who are you having influence on so when they think of you they say, “Oh, thank you, God!” The perfect environment to give and receive this type of interaction is a local expression of the body of Christ. In this church family, as we grow in knowing God, loving people and serving the world, the above list will increasingly become the “norm”. As exciting and rejuvenating as “buoy #2” was on Saturday, it doesn’t begin to compare to that type of “body life”. Experience it for yourself!
Marlo