Thought for the day
I heard about a lady who spent some time in Egypt and brought back a rather unusual story. She was at a bazaar on one of Cairo's side streets, and saw a skull being exhibited. She asked the proprietor about it. He told her it was the skull of Cleopatra.
Alongside that skull was a smaller one, which piqued her interest. When she asked about that one, the proprietor said: "That m'lady is also Cleopatra's - but as a child."
While it may not surprise us that a vendor in a tourist area would make up such a story, we immediately recognize the obvious truth that there can't be two heads! It is an obvious truth in the physical realm, but one that we seem to need to be reminded of in the spiritual realm. "And he [God] has put all things under his [Christ's] feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:22-23)
The church, the body of Christ, has only one head -- Jesus Christ. To use the words of a book by W. Griffith Thomas, "Christianity is Christ." Christ must be placed at the center of Christianity. He must be the focus of our faith.
Mr. Thomas made this observation in his book: "Christianity is the only religion in the world which rests on the Person of its founder. A man can be a faithful Mohammedan without in the least concerning himself with the person of Mohammed. So also a man can be a true and faithful Buddhist without knowing anything whatever about Buddha. It is quite different with Christianity [which] is so inextricably bound up with Christ that our view of the Person of Christ involves and determines our view of Christianity...."
And when Christ is placed at the center of our religion, then all the other elements of Christianity take on a completely new meaning. When he becomes the focus of our faith, we will see the church differently. The church isn't just an organization, but it is rather it is the spiritual body of Christ on earth. And when we see the church differently, we see ourselves differently as well. We are not just affiliated with an organization, as though we had joined the Kiwanis or the Elks Club. We see ourselves as members of the body of Christ who are joined together in unity and who live for the purpose of serving Jesus Christ, our one and only head.
Verses
2 Corinthians 5:7
(for our course here has to be guided by faith, not by what is visible) –
Exodus 23:25
"You must serve only the LORD your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will keep you healthy.
John 10:10
The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.
1 Peter 3:7
Likewise you husbands, live considerately with your wives, bestowing honor on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered.
Psalm 112:1,3
Let the Lord be praised. Happy is the man who gives honour to the Lord, and has great delight in his laws. A store of wealth will be in his house, and his righteousness will be forever.
Romans 12:12
If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying.
Prayer
Jesus, You taught Your followers that You are the vine and we are the branches. If we remain in You we will bear much fruit. Fruitfulness in our lives is not automatic nor can it be purchased or inherited since You are the sole source of our fruitfulness. Help us to be healthy vines bearing much fruit so that we bring glory to You and also bear witness to the world that we are truly Your disciples. Amen.
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