A Cooperative Effort

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 – There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. (NIV)

When the children were little ones, on Christmas Eve or just before, my hubby, the kids, and I piled into the car and drove to the Christmas tree lot where we selected a tree, usually from the cheaper ones in the back. We'd haul it home and saw off the base so that it would fit in our living room, leaving enough room at the top for a star. Once in the stand, the decorating began.

Our little ones hadn't the patience or motor skills to string popcorn. They did bring some handmade paper bells or chains from school. Otherwise, we hung ornaments collected over the years or passed down from grandparents.

In our house, we gave the children the freedom to place the ornaments on the tree wherever they saw fit or could reach without mishap. Often, a small voice would call out for daddy or mommy to place an ornament beyond the reach of the child. If the children moved on to other pursuits, my hubby and I would complete the decorating. Sometimes, a child would wander back to supervise. My wise hubby would ask the little one where to put an ornament. The child usually had a very good idea. Decorating the Christmas tree was a cooperative effort in our household.

Every Sunday, God's household also engages in a cooperative effort. We call it worship. From musicians, to Sunday School teachers, to children racing to the front at children's time, to their parents and grandparents in the pews, to the lector reading Scripture, to the minister at the pulpit, we each contribute something to worship. While we tend to think of reading Scripture and the minister's sermon as being more important, without the songs of praise, the melodious instruments, and the voices singing out the hymns and choruses, our services would seem dull. Without corporate prayer time, when people call out prayer requests, intimacy would be lost. Knowing the needs of the congregation enables us to empathize with one another and take those requests home to pray for throughout the coming week. Prayer builds community and an inter-connectedness that knits the church together to become the body of Christ. And it's all good. It's all very good.

Like the last puzzle piece which completes the picture, our presence rounds out the worship service. Don't be missing!

Colossians 3:15-17 – Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (NIV)

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for calling us to be the body of Christ, Your church. Enable us to be faithful witnesses in all that we do or say, through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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