YOU ARE A WEAPON!

THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP – PASTOR RYAN LADEN (DEVOTIONALS)

You Are A Weapon!

One of the most powerful resources, tools, weapons we have been given by God to help us persevere through times of trial, hardship, and pain is that of our fellow believers in Christ.

We need to be connected to other Christians if we are going to be full participants in the grace of God given to us in this world. We cannot pretend that it is God’s will for us that we should be isolated and alone in our faith. We must see that we are called into the family of God. This point is made well in the following passage:

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 NIV11

Part of the Body

If you are in Christ – one with Christ through faith in his salvation and his authority over all areas of your life and all areas of creation – then you are a part of the Body of Christ. You cannot not be a part of the Body of Christ. That is a gospel fact!

As a part of the Body of Christ, we, like parts of a flesh and blood body, must be connected to one another if we are going to survive and thrive in this life.

So… are you connected?

• Are you a willing participant in the fellowship of believers?
• Do you count the people of Christ as your true, eternal family?

Question

Here is a big question, are you a blessing to others within the Body of Christ, or are you someone who receives blessings only?

We must see that as parts of Christ’s family, we have responsibilities to care for one another, and to show love and mercy to one another. As part of the family of God, we cannot be out for only our own good.

Investments

Listen to the following passages, and hear what they have to say about our calling from God to invest in others as they invest in us:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:9-10 NIV11

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:8-10 NIV11

Reflection

• How are you allowing other parts of the Body of Christ to show you love and do good for you?
• How are you offering hospitality to other people from the family of faith?
• Are you allowing the love of God in you to cover over – smooth out, the rough patches and hard parts we see in others?
• Have you embraced your need for the Body of Christ?

In Christ,

Ryan Laden

OUR MISSION AS A CHURCH

“TO ENCOURAGE AND EQUIP EACH OTHER IN LOVE TO KNOW JESUS AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”

 CONTACT INFO

• (541) 245-2612
• Answers@TableRockFellowship.com
• 3610 N Pacific Hwy
  Medford Oregon 97501