a. We are parts of one another. That should say it all. Know at all times that you were not created to be alone, to act alone or to exist only for yourself. Recognize the Body. Always consciously see yourself as a part of that whole. This community is the every-day tangible expression of that Body for us. It is where we live out our union with Christ. Be intentional in giving your gifts to the Body of whom you are a part. Whatever it may be, be that, give that.

b. As you give your gifts, though, don't show off. Once again, don't think of yourself as more than you are. Don't put yourself onpedestaltle to be viewed as important and special. Simply be who you are, honestly and genuinely and that gift of you will enrich the community without it being made something that it is not. I say it again. Don't push your agenda. Don't push yourself.

c. As a footnote to the statement above, "Simply be who you are, honestly and genuinely and that gift of you will enrich the community..." - I want to add this: Do not take "be who you are" to be a full blessing of who you might be at the present time. I mean to say that who you are or who I am, in some serious ways, may need to change. The simple statement "be who you are" can be taken to mean we are fine just the way we are and we have no need for transformation or the life that gives way to it. None of us, remember this, are fine the way we are. We are all in need of deep transformative work in order to become who and what we were created to be. The intention of that statement is to call for humility, sober estimation, a proper understanding of who we are and what we have to give, and of course, a call to recognize who you are in Christ and to allow yourself to be that person in the community.

a. Do not play at love. Be genuine in your love for one another. Be honest. If, in loving, we do that which is evil in order to avoid real, honest love, we become a fracture in the life of the community. We make the vessel leaky. So make sure that your love is real, genuine, and honest.

b. To hate what is evil is not merely to become a moralist - to become one who goes about stating as much as possible what is evil and what is not. It is not to become one who is afraid of darkness. To hate evil is to recognize Love. When we see Love, the Love that is in God, we will recognize, by default, that which is not Love - that which is evil. To hate evil is to embrace Love. Hold on to what is good, it says. Grab hold of Love, of good, of God and your hands will be too full for evil. Hate evil because it harms Love, not because there is some law that forbids some thing or action.

c. Don't simply receive love from others, always being the one to take and never to give. This is not to see that you are a vessel of God like the rest. In the same way, don't be the one who always only gives love and never receives. Maybe we should use the word "help." Don't help everyone and always say no when it comes to anyone helping you. This is to see yourself as the only vessel and the others as less than you. It is pride. Bend yourself and accept help. Mutual affection, it said, not simply, "show affection." Again, we are a Body, all of us together. Let us live that way.

d. Practically, do this by showing honor to one another - it is also translated "respect." Be intentional about it, but do not do this in order to get respect in return. Love loves because it is love, not in order to get payback. In your hearts and minds as well as in your words and actions, do not show yourself to be waiting for a harvest of honor for having sewn honor. Honor and respect because you love, not for gain. Listen to what I'm saying. You know what I mean.

| posted by + Alan | 7:01 PM | 4 comments |