Issue 4 - Summer 2018

Just as Brother Nose got through complaining,
he said, “They don’t appreciate me around here. I’m
going to go someplace where they appreciate me.”
How would it look if we saw Brother Nose walking
down the street all by himself? Ridiculous, isn’t it?
How would it be if Brother Leg would say, “I don’t feel
like I am a part of this church; I think that I am going
to leave.” Then we see a leg walking down the street
hunting for a body. Isn’t that ridiculous?
Here’s another illustration: The message is brought
to all the members of the body that Brother and Sister
Eye don’t see like they used to. The head sends out a
message and all the brothers and sisters in the body are
conscious of the needs of Brother and Sister Eye. So,
Brother Mouth and Sister Tongue got on the phone to
make an appointment to get the eyes examined. The
eyes were examined and the body had an appointment
to pick up the new glasses in two weeks.
In the meantime, Brother and Sister Leg and Brother
and Sister Foot were down in a coffee shop and they
were having coffee together. They were discussing the
need of Brother and Sister Eye. Brother Leg said to
Brother Foot, “You know what? I believe that God’s
judgment is coming on Brother and Sister Eye. I don’t
think that they are living right. We’re down here and
we’ve been carrying the load of everything. Anything
that happens, they are in on it. They know everything.
Maybe God is dealing with them. Maybe they’ve been
too forward. Maybe God is punishing them!”
So, Brother Foot and Brother Leg start thinking
further. Brother Leg says to Brother Foot, “Next
Saturday is the appointment for us to go to pick up the
glasses. You know what? I don’t think we’ll go! I
don’t feel right about it. I don’t think they deserve it.
Let them be in the condition they are in. They don’t
have to see as much anymore.”
Sister Leg and Sister Foot, upon hearing this from
their husbands, began to get convicted. They got
together and discussed the situation. Sister Leg said, “I
feel that our husbands are unreasonable. It’s not only
going to hurt us if the eyes can’t see. If we don’t have
light then soon we’ll be walking in darkness, and we’ll
stumble and fall. We will be hurting ourselves.” So,
they talked to their husbands. Their husbands, however,
remained stubborn. Husbands, we need to consider and
listen to our wives. Sometimes they are more sensitive
than we are.
Sister Leg and Sister Foot decided that if their
husbands were not going to help them, then they would
try to do it themselves. Many times it works out that
way. Husbands are uncooperative and don’t take their
place. They shove the responsibility on their wives. It
would be much better if the husbands would take their
leadership and responsibility.
Sister Leg and Sister Foot went down to pick up the
glasses. However, a problem developed. Brother and
Sister Thumb refused to cooperate with them. Finally,
it was left up to the hand and the finger to put the glasses
on. The thumbs continue to refuse to cooperate, so the
fingers have to put on the glasses. The fingers are not
complete without the thumb. It is so much better when
the thumb cooperates.
THE BODY OF CHRIST HINDERED
This same pitiful condition often exists with the
body of Christ, also. There are members in a church
that are stubborn and don’t cooperate with the rest of
the members. They either sit or stay at home or they
leave. The body is constantly suffering because the
members have not found a home.
There are members that are out there all by
themselves. Many of them are yearning to be joined to
the body, but we must be sensitive to their needs. The
body is not complete without them.
God is interested in bringing His people together
and joining them together. God’s desire is for each
member to grow and supply one another’s need. As
each member finds a place in the body and begins to
function, then the body can function properly. There
will be no lack in the body.
A WHOLE BODY
Now let’s examine a body and mind that is
functioning properly. Brother Stomach sends out a
message to the rest of the body, “I’m thirsty.” Brother
Throat says, “Yeah, I’m dry too.” All of the other
members are alerted, “Brother Stomach and Brother
Throat need a drink.”
Away they rush. They can hardly wait to work
together. Brother Thumb cooperates. Brother and
Sister Leg and Brother and Sister Foot can’t wait to
meet the need of Brother Stomach and Brother Throat.
Brother Mouth opens up and the Arms bring it to
the mouth and oh what a blessing! What a blessing!
Brother Stomach’s thirst is quenched and Brother
Throat isn’t dry anymore. Their needs are met and the
body is flourishing. The other members are so happy
that they were able to serve. That’s the picture of a
happy and whole body.
God is yearning more than anything else to see the
body of Christ come together, to serve one another,
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