One of the things I noticed as a patient in the hospital, is that every person has a vital role. From the receptionist, to the admission clerk, and then to the staff on the unit, each one plays an important part. Then when you finally arrive at your room, your patient care assistant and nurse are waiting for you.
The first thing they do is introduce themselves and proceed to ask you “why are you in the hospital?” From there begins the parade of providers. Each one has their particular role and function. You have the lab technicians, X-ray technicians, ultrasound technicians, nurses, pca’s, volunteers, doctors, student nurses, med students, residents, fellows, chaplains. Like clockwork each working in unison for the goal of restoring you to health so that you can go home.
I am reminded as to what is our purpose and goal as a church. Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32 And in another place He says “I have come to seek and save that which is lost.” Luke 19:10 The hospital has clearly defined goals such as our church does. The Bible also has clearly defined goals for the church. In the book of Ephesians chapter 4:11-13 the bible says “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”
Every now and then the church forgets why we exist and what our mission is. When this happens each ministry begins to work independently of one another rather than in harmony with each other. And as a result , the church loses its focus and its mission. The church in Corinth lost its focus and mission. Paul addressed the issue in 1 Corinthians 12:15-18 where he states- “If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole body were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”
Let us remember that it is the enemy that causes disharmony and disruption in the church. He did it in heaven, and he continues to try to wreak havoc among God’s church here on earth. So the question that must be asked is “What is your involvement in the local church?” Are you marching under the blood stained banner of Christ, or are you marching to the beat of a different drummer? God has called each and every of us to bring a message of hope to a world that is sick and dying. God has called each and every one of us to work side by side with our fellow brothers and sisters to bring comfort in the midst of despair. God has called each and every one of us to help the needy and those who cannot help themselves. But most importantly God has called each and every one of us to tell the world of Jesus Christ our Savior, the Great Physician who is calling each and every one of us to come home.
We are told that God is a God of order. From the moment you are born until you take your final breath you are assigned an attending angel. God’s purpose is clear. He wants to save each and every one of us and bring us home.
Here are some words of insight and encouragement. “It is not the opposition of the world that most endangers the church of Christ. It is the evil cherished in the hearts of believers that works their most grievous disaster and most surely retards the progress of God’s cause. There is no surer way of weakening spirituality than by cherishing envy, suspicion, faultfinding, and evil surmising. On the other hand, the strongest witness that God has sent His Son into the world is the existence of harmony and union among men of varied dispositions who form His church. This witness it is the privilege of the followers of Christ to bear. But in order to do this, they must place themselves under Christ’s command. Their characters must be conformed to His character and their wills to His will”. AA 549.1
May God bless you this Sabbath as we march together under the banner of Christ
Angel
Angel J. Rodriguez, D.Min
Houston Central – Senior Pastor
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