Philippians 2:14-15 “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…”

I Cor. 12:18, 24b-26 “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose…But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

If we understood that tearing each other down also hurts us, as members of the same body, we would stop. We are called to be lights in this world. A single flame can light a small area. But when many flames are joined together, the light can be seen from far off. So it is with us. If we could but give our ‘disputable matters’ to God to take care of (shut up!) and realize that in honoring each other we will all have cause to rejoice, we can truly demonstrate what the world is longing to see. What role we have in the body doesn’t matter because everyone is essential if we are to complete the mission our Savior has given us. If just one of us lifts another, the whole is raised up and our light shines brighter. If just one tears another down, the whole of us drops and suffers and our light in this world is dimmed. We must not choose to be our own little flame when the Lord has called us to be part of a bonfire. Why did God place us where he has? So that there would be no division in the body.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, thank you for placing me in this body of believers as it has pleased you. Today I give to you any matters that I have which could cause a diminishing of your church or the people who look to it for guidance. Father, grant me the wisdom to build up my brothers and sisters - that our church might be a beacon for a ‘crooked and twisted generation.’ – in your Son’s saving name I pray…Amen.”