Connection

Ephesians 4:16 “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

There are all kinds of connections, but only in Christ are we eternally connected.

Where did the circumstances that got me connected each of us to Christ come from?  From Him.

• He arranged each of our circumstances to lead us to Himself. He transported us from a vague religiousness to a personal and personalized relationship with Himself.
• Each one of us was invited. Each person was chosen.  Each person has a place.
• “You were called to belong to Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:6).
• The body of Christ is a colorful people, and He likes it that way. Consider Jesus’ disciples.

It’s silly to compare ourselves to one another.  Your effect for the Lord is exclusively yours.  There is no comparison.

Our effect is not to be isolated. It is part of the rest of the body and intended to be used to build up the body.

Ephesians 4:16 is about appreciating our connection to God and to each other.

Romans 12:1-5 Cautions us to not think of ourselves independently and in a superior manner.  Instead, we are instructed to appreciate our interdependence.

We are called to see the value in each other because this is how God sees each of us.

Romans 2:11 – God does not show partiality or favoritism.

• We have no disadvantage due to our size, shape, color, gender, when we walk in the room before Him.
• None of our perceived deficits affect His view of us.

1 Corinthians 12:27  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  We are members of one another.