April 2 1The Head and Body

Ephesians 1:22-23 God placed all things under Christ’s rule. He appointed him to be ruler over everything for the church. 23 The church is Christ’s body. It is filled by Christ. He fills everything in every way. (New International Reader’s Version)
 
PAUL’S words point to and remind us of this remarkable understanding of God’s reason for filling the church with himself. The Father formed the church under Jesus’ headship to be the world’s view of the Son. When people are wondering, “Who is Jesus?” they should be able to go to his church and discover a true, full answer to that eternal question.
    But this can only happen as the church sees Jesus as the head of his body. Certainly we can understand this “head-body” illustration. Your head is the control center of all your body does. Through your eyes and your ears, you respond to your external stimuli with your voice and your actions. Your brain tells your feet and hands what to do. And even more, without a conscious thought, your brain stimulates all parts of your body to function.
    What happens then when connections between the brain and the body break down The body cannot fully function, can it? In a like manner the church as Jesus’ body, must strive to be fully connected to Jesus, the head. Christ’s fullness – all he is as Teacher, Healer, Savior and Lord – must be the source of the church’s actions. Established in a broken world, the church must truly and fully use its God-ordained power to respond to the world. When the church sees people in need, it is to respond in Jesus. When the church hears lies regarding Jesus, it must tell the truth in Jesus. When God’s enemies threaten to destroy or diminish the church, it must stand firm to protect Jesus, its Head. As Jesus “fills everything in every way”, his church must tell of mankind’s sin, Jesus’ sacrifice and Jesus’ salvation, so that more souls will be filled with Jesus’ eternal forgiveness.
     How’s your church doing? Are you connected to the Head? Do you seek the complete Christ to fully direct his body’s actions?
 
Prayer: Jesus, Head of your church, forgive us for the many times our sin-stained minds wanted to control your body. Teach us to be your faithful church, responding to your full authority. In Your name we pray, amen.