“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-14(NRSV)

Thought:

One plus one equals ... a couple. An apple, a banana and an orange makes ... a collection of fruit. Day after day, moment after moment makes ... time. A Baptist, a Methodist, a Presbyterian, a catholic, a Pentecostal and a Lutheran make up ... the body of Christ. Do you see a pattern here? By ourselves, we are only what we are, alone. Yet, when we are together we transcend alone, we transcend the most we could ever be by ourselves.

Hear the Good News, in a world where individuality is prized, where being unique is championed, and where diversity is praised, unity is what makes the difference. Unity makes the difference for the better and for the worse. Come together for worship and feel the difference. A soprano may sing beautifully, but add an alto, bass and a tenor, and tears can come to your eyes. Together, Dr. DeBakey and Dr. Cooley brought forth a cardiac care revolution. Of course there is the other spectrum. Hate united brings about an instrument for terror. Rumor, innuendo and gossip, together bring confusion and even destruction. So, should we be surprised as Paul reminds us that as Christians we are to be united in the one thing that is right, the one thing that is true? Jesus Christ!

A couple of nights ago, we, as a church invited others, as Christians, to come and sing, to come and have fellowship. I was struck by the diversity; color, denomination, tradition and style. I imagined, for just one split moment Jesus elbowing Paul in the side saying, "I think they are beginning to get it."

One of these days, I believe we will get it. It certainly will not be so much our doing, as it will be the work of the Spirit in the world. But wouldn't it be something if we allowed the Spirit to work in us, that we would experience the uniting power of Christ?

As we see Thanksgiving racing to us, as much as we are racing to it, let's unite and re-unite with our brothers and sisters in Christ, so we might resemble the Body of Christ. Let's get carried away with being a part of instead of apart of.

Prayer: