Take care of your body...don't get beat down!No one ever hates his own body, but feeds and takes care of it. And that is what Christ does for the church, because we are parts of his body.
Ephesians 5:29-30
The church is not a building with steeples and stained glass. The church is a group of people who are so closely joined to Jesus and to another that they work together as if they are one single body. The people may meet in a building complete with steeples, every Sunday, or they may meet in private homes, public schools, outdoors or even online as we are on this blog. It doesn't matter where they meet. What matters is what happens when they do.
The care of both the local church and the international church as a whole is of primary concern to Jesus. If you are a part of that church body, you will feel about it as Jesus does. You'll want to give the same attention to taking care of those you're intimately connected with as you do to taking care of yourself.
The Greek word for feed means more than just supplying nutrition. It means nourishing every internal need. This includes spiritual and emotional needs, as well as the food you digest internally. Take care of means "to cherish." It is a very rare ancient Greek word that is found only once outside Scripture on a marriage contract written on papyrus. In its most literal sense, cherish means "to take care of every external need someone else has."
By nourishing and cherishing others in the church, you help maintain the health of the whole body.
Selah people and friends in the Old Testament, the people of Israel were referred to by a Hebrew word that translates as the "congregation." It means the complete assembly of God's people. Your local congregation is not complete without you.
"Peace be yours as we nurture each other as the true body of Christ."
Your pastor,
Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)
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