Monday December 20, 2021
CHRISTMAS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Corinthians 12
KEY VERSES: But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:24-27
At Christmas we have the special honor of giving and receiving, of sharing special times and making memories together. We invest in each other’s lives and build community. We ask each other what is on our list, and we are quick to tell others about our requests. Spending Christmas with one another really makes the season meaningful. Some are great singers, some keep the peace in the family, some organize, and some cook or teach others to cook. If we could take the ingredients of Christmas and apply it to our everyday church family then we may just have Christmas every day! I grew up in a church where people invested in each other, and the church members learned how to act as one body of Christ. Every church member was a family member and when there was a need, or a blessing people knew it. They knew it because we spent time together and we talked about real life issues. We were not afraid to show each other our real-life Christmas lists. I grew up seeing and knowing deeply the love of Christ because I felt it in real and tangible ways through the hands and feet of Christ which were sitting in the pews next to me. On Christmas Eve at St. John’s when someone lights my candle and then I give the light to the person next to me it reminds me of how we are to live every day. Church is not making small talk and carefully picking certain things to put on a prayer list. Church is being the body of Christ and taking the time to really know our fellow church members in a way that will help us feel the light of Christmas every day. Look for the needs that are right in front of you and reach out to each other. If we strengthen our church body, then we will be better equipped to go outside our church walls and bring Light to the darkness. Find true Christian fellowship and you will find the true church.
PRAYER: Lord, shape our lives to embrace each other authentically. Help us create a working body of Christ in our home church that is visible and open to all. Renew our church family through the power of the Holy Spirit, that we may give and receive to each other like it is Christmas every day. Amen.
Sarah Floyd
