In college, one of the most memorable projects I had a part in was a ceramic mural for the school library. The collaboration was a work between a group of student artists with different ideas, styles, personalities, passions, and experience. Fortunately, our group didn’t butt heads too much. Still, when a group of individuals each have their own ideas of how something should be done, some ideas will get thrown out.
Creators are often heard saying that their creations are their babies. Those creations can become dear to their hearts. It can become uncomfortable if not painful when the near and dear is removed or seemingly not valued. However, in a collaborative project, the finished piece would look cluttered if nothing was removed. To be cohesive, the elements coming together must have a visual harmony. Even good ideas were removed for the sake of the final work.
Likewise, the human body is a collaboration of systems that work together for our good health and life functioning. When one of these systems has a problem, it can throw off our body’s ability to function properly. It can also throw off other systems. If left unchecked, in many instances, it can end our lives.
The Church, or the body of Christ, is a diverse group, and we are being called to unity. We are called to collaborate in building the kingdom of God.
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] 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. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. (1Cor.12:12-14 NIV)
The Lord has been reminding me of the importance of relationships in the body. What he’s doing in the earth isn’t an individual thing, it’s a church body thing. He wants to bring us into oneness like we see in the Acts church. Church background doesn’t matter. Truth and relationship with Jesus and each other is what does. He isn’t coming back for a segmented bride, but for a spotless and perfect one. We are being called into the ultimate collaboration with Jesus and fellow believers, to build the kingdom according to the Father’s blueprints. He will not share his glory with another. I hope you will pray with me, for God to help us in this unifying. Many of us are not used to living life connected beyond the occasional. Independence has been a life long quality of mine, and I know I’m not alone.
Father, teach us how to live in a place of greater collaboration with you and each other. Help us to yield to you, as you place us where you have designed us to be to make the greatest kingdom impact. Create a greater oneness and heal the fractions within and between us. Bring glory to your name alone as we learn to truly collaborate.
Melicia Evans 