There is a game people play today that creates a tower made from wooden blocks. It is played in a group, and it tests a person’s structural, space and depth perception skills. Unfortunately, I am not good at it. I have a friend who is an amateur plumber who is. There are many structural parts that are key to the tower. There is however the one at the very bottom that is the keystone.
The analogy that I take from this is our part. The tower is Jesus’ Church on Earth. He is the Keystone. We are the structural parts that keep it standing. We do our part in the name of Jesus.
“We are many parts
We are all one body
And the gifts we have
We are given to share
May the spirit of love, make us one indeed
One, the love that we share
One, our hope in despair
One, the cross that we bare” Words by Marty Haugen.
The name of Jesus is powerful and sacred. Personally, I confess, that I use it in vain at times in anger. Hopefully, with the rest of my life, I use it to be a structural part that helps build the Church or the Body of Christ. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, ‘Who are you?’; they knew quite well it was the Lord. Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish.
The power of Jesus is not just in His name but in His Body. Jesus feeds us and gives us His strength to do our part to keep His Church strong. It is unfortunate that some people take the following scripture and add more to it than what it says. For of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved. That is the name of Jesus Christ. So true! Jesus died for all our sins and rose from the dead to prove we have a path to heaven and salvation. This scripture does say that it is through Jesus that we are saved.
Does it say that any non-Christian is condemned?
I have friends who are Protestant and say anyone who is not a Christian cannot be saved. Their opinion is that all non-Christians are going to hell to listen to their preachers. I have heard some say that anyone who is non-Chistian should be condemned. Fortunately, I am not in a position to condemn anyone of any Faith. Still if a Muslim or Hindu go to Heaven it will be through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. Not because of their religion but because of Jesus. He says in Luke 6:37 “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
My conclusion is that I need to stop judging, condemning and cursing, because I have no right to do so. I also have the duty to love and respect the name of Jesus and love others more. “We are many parts We are all one body And the gifts we have. We are given to share.” We are fed daily by Jesus and scripture. We need to love more like Him.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for children everywhere who are suffering. Pray for peace!
