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If We Are The Body

By: Dana Parrish

Posted: March 31, 2015

Category: Daily Devotional

By: Casting Crowns 

It’s crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girl’s teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

But if we are the body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road

Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ

Jesus is the way

This song has been stuck in my head for days. This is probably because I have listened to it on repeat for a week. I wake up and the chorus is there. As I snuggle into bed for the night this song is playing over and over again.  It isn’t so much all the verses as it is the following:

But if we are the body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way

Something about these words hits me at my core. As disciples of Jesus Christ we are the body here on earth. It is our job to continue to work Jesus did while he was here. I freely admit I often fail in this task. Never intentionally, but sometimes I get too “busy” to help others. Sometimes I put my own personal needs above the needs of others. Other times I am guarded from being hurt and withhold forgiveness where God is telling me to give it. Many times I put my feelings (and I have a lot of them!) first before what God is calling me to do. This song is a very real reminder that my job here is to use my words and actions to reach, teach, and love others in any way that I can. Excuses come easily sometimes as to why I “can’t” be these things to God’s people.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served by to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” John 14:12

Since taking this job I have realized that our church does the hands and feet of Jesus very well. It has inspired me to do more in the name of Jesus. I feel certain that if anyone came to our church for the first time on a Sunday they would feel the love of Christ all around them. They would feel His arms reaching, his words teaching and His feet going and that in Jesus there is a way.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, help us each day to be Your hands and feet. Help us to use our words to teach our arms to reach and our feet to carry Your word to others. We love You and thank You for the blessings in our lives each day. We thank You for a church home that does these things so well. In Your Name, Amen.