Body of Christ

In 2 Peter 1:4, we find an amazing phrase that raises us into the heavens … we are given the precious promise that we may, “participate in the divine nature.”  If you read yesterday’s devotion you know that does not mean we become God – not going to happen. There is a vast difference between the All-Sufficient One, Creator of all things, and the things He created!

It does, however, mean that as Adam was made in the image of God, so we too by the power of God’s Spirit are made in the image of our LORD and Savior, Christ Jesus (the Second Adam).

As God is love, so are we. As God is true and good, so are we. But there is even more glory contained in those five little words.

We have been made members of the body of Christ. As in the natural body, the same blood that flows in the head flows through the body. The same life that raised Christ from the dead, resurrects us. We are made alive in His divine nature. How this all works is beyond my human finite comprehensive. That it does work is testified to by the Spirit of God in me.

Should that not cause us to reflect His divine nature in every action of our life? Should not those who are around us see the “Jesus in me?” Should that not cause us to fall to our knees in worship?

When I consider such things, I always come back to the thought, “Why me, God? Why would you call me to Your side, knowing what I am?”

I don’t know the answer to that question any more today than I did 50 years ago. But I love my LORD more every time I ask the question.  Amen.

Our main goal in going to California recently was to celebrate the 12^th birthday of our youngest grandson.  We hoped to surprise him, and we certainly did!

One perk we had not counted on was that his older brother, a senior in high school, was finally going to be able to play football. (High school sports have been shut down in California for a long time because of COVID.)

When we arrived on the field, I felt an immediate urge to pray for our grandson to be kept safe from injury. This young man has a football scholarship from Arizona Christian University to attend in the fall.

The first play in the game, a player on our grandson’s team ran the kickoff back for a touchdown. Our grandson was sent in to hold for the kicker for the point after. The kicker missed, and our grandson was injured when a player from the opposing team leveled him illegally. He had to be helped off the field. The trainer was called, and our grandson had a dislocated big toe. The trainer popped it back into place and our grandson played the rest of the game.

An x-ray followed the week after, along with a c-scan, and much conflicting information before it was decided that there were no broken bones, but a tear in the ligament and some tissue damage. Thankfully, he probably will not need surgery, but he is in a cast for a month and cannot put any weight on his foot. That will be followed by physical therapy before he can get back in the game.

It was a big toe. One big toe. It is taking him out of the game for a while, and when any player is missing, the team is diminished.

That reminded me that all it takes to cripple the Body of Christ is one big toe being taken out by the enemy of our soul. We all depend upon each other in the Body of Christ. We may not be eyes or ears or heart or lungs, we might just be one big toe … still when we are taken out of the game, everyone is diminished.

We must pray for and watch out for each other; it is imperative if we are to be victorious.