Houston Bynum
A Bible school teacher invited the students to join her in their usual closing of class. "Let's make our churches," she said, clasping her hands together. "This is the church, and this is the steeple. Open the doors and see all the..."
Just then it hit her. She had totally forgotten about the little boy who had joined the class that day, who was missing one arm. She had been so worried about one of the children making a comment about his handicap or saying something else to embarrass him. Now, the very thing she had worried about the children doing, she had done herself.
As she stood there speechless, trying to decide what to do, the most wonderful thing happened. Little Lucy, who was sitting next to the little boy, reached over with her left hand and placed it up to his right hand and said, "Davy, let's make the church together."
We all need one another, don't we? "No man is an island." We should be involved in the lives of our spiritual brothers and sisters who make up the Lord's body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). In this passage Paul tells the church at Corinth that there is one body but many members, that each member has a function to perform, and that the involvement of every member is necessary as we care for one another. We Christians should be involved in the lives of each other and not so absorbed in our own interests (Philippians 2:4-5).
Churches use a variety of ways to facilitate the participation and involvement of the members in God's family. In overseeing the work of the church, elders may appoint deacons to whom are delegated particular works. Duty cards and visitation groups help in coordinating membership activity. Sometimes teachers and classes may take on special projects to accomplish. We certainly encourage such coordinated efforts of group involvement.
However, we also encourage individual initiative. We frequently hear such expressions, as "be a self-starter "and" bloom where you are planted." You truly have a mission field in your own circle of relatives, friends, and neighbors. The wise man said, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). James wrote, "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). Our involvement in good works brings glory to God (Matthew 5:16).
Arthur Brisbane once said, "The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work." God will bless our efforts with success (Isaiah 55:11; 1 Corinthians 3:6), to the extent that we as members are involved with one another-collectively and individually.
So, remember little Lucy and Davy. "Let's make the church together!"
