“In Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others”
(Romans 12:5)
Reflection:
As Christians we receive and enter into new relationships. Just as with our biological families we do not get to choose the members so it is with the family of God – or as Paul refers to it, the ‘body of Christ.’
First and foremost we enter into a new relationship with God. God Almighty becomes our eternal Father. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, becomes our elder brother as well as being our Saviour and Lord and the Source of all our blessings. The Holy Spirit becomes the God within us – making God’s will for us into a reality and introducing us to the wonder and intimacy of the love of God.
Then we enter into new relationships with our fellow believers. Within the family of God they have become our brothers and sisters. Like us they too are a work in progress, being transformed slowly but surely into the likeness of Christ. We may not always like them as they are at any moment in time but we are called to love them, just as they are called to love us! In fact Jesus has called us to “love one another as I have loved you!” (John 13:34)
Then we enter into new relationships with our neighbours. Here Jesus tells us to “love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 19:19) The intention is that we love them as if they were us!
We also enter into new relationships with our enemies – whoever they may be. Jesus teaches us that we should “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44)
As we accept and enter into these new relationships under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit we bring strength and healing into the body of Christ. Where we do not we become a point of discord and disharmony which affects the whole.
It is quite clear from Jesus teaching that our response to these relationships needs to be complete – including our thoughts, words, attitudes and actions. This is only possible in the power ofr the Holy Spirit and is one of the reasons that He not only brings us into the love of God but brings the love of God into us.
“God has poured out his love into our hearts
by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us”
(Romans 5:5)
Response:
Accept the will of God and pray for the transformation of our attitudes and actions
Prayer:
Lord God please pour out Your love into me, in a never –ending and ever-increasing stream, so that Your love will transform me and flow from me at all times and in all situations. Amen.
———————
The Soaring Eagle 