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1 Corinthians 12:27 – Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (NIV)
Quite recently, I've started to watch a cable channel which is totally dedicated to auto mechanics. I know practically nothing about cars, but I find these programs fascinating. Each program usually begins with an experienced mechanic finding an old wreck of a classic car with the intention of renovating the whole vehicle and upgrading it into a modern muscle car. The entire process is amazing, and I'm absolutely riveted to the screen, watching these super-mechanics recreate a wonderful new vehicle from scratch.
Sometimes, the auto engineers discover something seriously faulty in the car's system. An important part may be missing, or a wire may have been plugged into the wrong place. Occasionally, the original engine has to be stripped clean and laboriously taken apart. As I watch them do this, I often wonder how they will ever get it together again. But at some point, they do what would be impossible for me — they rebuild the engine and the car entirely, so that the old wreck becomes a brand new automobile which anyone would be proud to own or drive.
I think that the Lord is in the same business, especially when He rebuilds and revives His church. No matter how wrecked, out-of-date, or neglected a congregation may be, when the Spirit of the Lord moves through it, all of the parts — the people — become reconnected to God and one another. It's a beautiful process and one that I am presently seeing in the church that I serve. Folks are allowing themselves to be touched by Christ and the whole spiritual engine of the congregation is being renovated through prayer, service, and vision. It's as if the Lord had suddenly decided to bring all the loose parts together in order to work on the body and revive the kirk.
The apostle Paul was probably expressing this when he wrote to the Christians in Corinth about how the church is made up of many parts and how each one of them had both an important and essential part to play in the well-being, ministry, and mission of the local congregation. The great thing about his message is that it still applies today, and when we are open to the Lord's vision for our spiritual community, He is still willing to work on the body, renovate our spirits, and rebuild His church.
Point to ponder – Am I willing to pray for the revival of my local congregation? Do I know where my essential part is in this call to be rebuilt?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You love Your church so much that You call it Your Bride. We are grateful for being an essential part of Your ministry here on earth. Renew and revive us for the sake of Your continuing mission. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
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May it be so, John.
Great analogy, John.
Hey John, see that you’re up for today. Thanks for this.
Blessings, brother.
Thanks, John. What a wonderful experience for your church! And may it be part of every church.
Thank you, John, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. I absolutely love to see antique, refurbished cars chugging down the road. They give this aging human hope! Blessings.
HI John
Thank you for this great devotional. Great visual indeed to help us get in the right mind set for God’s renovations in our lives and in the lives of our congregations.
God bless.
Hello John,
Thank you for another “right on” devotional. We are one in Christ and all together we make up the Church with His love and care – the centre of everything.
Blessings for the special devotionals you write.
(B.C.)
Your blessed writing with the marvelous illustration of the old broken-down car renewal is particularly relevant and compelling today. Your metaphor really works! There isn’t a congregation that doesn’t need to hear this. It gives me hope for ours and those I have known in the past. It CAN happen and you assure us that it IS, right now! Yay for that and for your inspiration today.
Greetings, John,
This is an encouraging and challenging devotional. First, I join in praising God for the loving work He is doing in your congregation! And what you said about His rebuilding any “wrecked, out-of-date, or neglected” congregation encourages. Our own house church ministry in remote parts of the vast interior of BC, while not “wrecked or neglected”, might be considered “out-of-date” in the world’s opinion, as we are mostly older believers (50+). But I’ve asked myself, so, which house church would God write off, just because there are few young ones in our midst? Not one, of course! He is indeed the “Master Mechanic” of rebuilding, and your reminder and the picture you used, speak well of that fact. So, this is an encouragement, and the challenge, of course, is that renewal starts “at home” – for me, and for each of us. But what a blessing that we are Christ’s church, and “… nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
So, thank you, and God bless you, as indeed He does!
(BC)
What a wonderful thing to experience the Spirit moving.
Presbyterians are too into decently and in order to allow it, but the Lord doesn’t give up!
Yes I am willing, And I will right now pray that God will bless and expand the universal church of Jesus Christ’s for his sake, and for the salvation of the people of the world,
Keep writing.
Hi John,
Thank you for this great devotional about the Body of Christ. I really enjoyed the analogy with the auto mechanics.
Blessings.