ConnectedBody

 
Hello Crown of Life Family & Friends,
So I get text updates from the City of New Orleans about COVID and they are all very helpful, but I’ve been noticing the challenge it must take to lead the hundreds of thousands of New Orleanians to do the same thing simply by the tone of the text. Most are strictly informational, but every so often you can sense a tinge emotion whether it’s frustration or empathy. They range from You must wear your face masks in public- stay at home, save lives. To- you’re doing great staying at home! You’re helping us flatten the curve! You can tell our leaders are trying their very hardest to get everyone moving in the same direction. There’s no doubt- it’s not easy. Success for a plan relies on the whole group and the capability of the leader, that’s why at times it has to be frustrating. Even our governor recognizes he doesn’t have the perfect solution for this and there will even be mistakes along the way.
 
An encouragement for connectedness- we are part of a group called the body of Christ and we are called a body because we are vitally important to each other as each of us has been given different abilities and gifts.

Romans 12:4–5

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

It’s been a joy to see how many gifts have risen to the occasion of supporting one another, in prayers, calls, generosity… Caring for one another is a huge blessing, but this is most encouraging- the success of this body rests solely on the leader- Christ.
 
I suppose there are times when it feels like the church is failing, especially when we know that we sometimes feel we fail to support it. But the emphasis in Romans 12 is ” so in Christ we who are many form one body.” For him the outcome of our life is not an uncertain thing. What he did 2000 years ago on the cross was the successful solution to our brokenness. That means you and I are part of a body that has the perfect solution. The body will follow where the head leads it. How does Christ, the head, come out of his suffering – victorious!
 
That’s empowering! Consider the gift of this body of believers is to you and you are to the body because of Christ’s headship. 
 
I pray that this is uplifting for you. Our connectedness in Christ helps build certainty even in uncertain times. We are still one body even when socially distanced. What an amazing God we have!
 
God’s Peace
Pastor Kehl