Community of the Saints (January 10, 2008)

For the first time in this exercise I have found myself in a need outside the resources I possessed. It made me look to others for assistance. Out of that exercise God used this to teach me a valuable lesson. This lesson I feel is an outgrowth of the other lessons I've gained out of this trial. First it was do I punish those who have been faithless by withholding their blessing at the end? At first glance it is easy to say that they don't deserve it. This fact doesn't really mean much to the Lord. He only operates in the arena of the undeserving. This made me consider everyone from a client perspective at first blush as equal. Now there are large disparities between them and probably always will be. I do think these will lead to variables in settlements ultimately but not initially. I was never in a position to surrender my position as a protector of the clients' rights from my duty before the Lord. It was in this obligation that I began to understand the community of the saints. I find that the Christian walk is very individual and it is in the inwardness of a man that the scales of a man's soul are measured for eternity. How does the community fit into this walk, was my recent question. I look at the "body of Christ" concept and understood it as a distinct and separate work while still very much of the same essence of individualism. Christ has His body to function as a community but like the cell structure is a collection of individual cells. I know my private work in the Lord and can even see my community participation but am I seeing your work and your pains as my own? If I truly am a part of the community as with the physical body, I would have a share in your pain even though I could be healthy at the moment. These questions made me ponder if there was more I could be doing to ease your pain. Prayer was the striking call within me. I know I can't do anymore from a legal perspective at the moment. The spiritual work though I felt I could enhance with a share in your agonies through prayer. I wonder if all of us stopped looking at this giant disease of bank fraud from an individualistic point of view if we might be able to accomplish more sharing the journey as a community grouped as the body of Christ. If the Lord speaks to you about the place He is taking His body along with where He is taking you perhaps you can join me in prayer or find some other faith expression that will bless our community with the health of the whole. I know that Christ has secured our victory on the battlefront but our souls and our path may still need the loving actions of well-being aggressively pursuing the opportunity to bless. Let us all step out as victors and love on each other. I bet even some of the retards can be healed. I continue to seek God for the highest possible goal out of this trial. Our fast went great and part of what I'm speaking here was learned in that devotional time. I can say that I could use your love, prayer, and assistance to fire on all cylinders to the finish line, how about you? Lord make us as a body love on ourselves to that we function for you as a healthy viable unit of your grace, and glory. Lift every weak member to the concern of the strong until we all come the full measure of your power and plan. Help me as the leader of this call not to fall short and to finish this race for the good of all. Forgive me for not always looking to the weak with my prayer life or with my hands. Bless us all to fulfill your desires. AMEN!