Barnabas Bulletin ~ 0145
What Piece Of The Puzzle Are You?
A MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT and challenge to Christian Workers and Christians generally, inspiring YOU to rise to greater heights in God, Who is for YOU! He wants to use YOU more and more in these challenging times!
WELCOME to “BB” No. 145! May you know tremendous and continued blessing, enlargement of vision and purpose, and real encouragement as you open your heart and life to JESUS CHRIST the LORD, and His mighty Holy Spirit ~ and BELIEVE all that He has for you. Let the challenge of His conditions for loving and serving Him teach you more and more each day of the importance of RESPONDING TO HIS VOICE in praise, thanksgiving, faith and allowing His LORDSHIP to rule in your life; of your capturing His vision for you, and obeying it. This month’s guest contributor is Jean Francis (Rodney’s wife):
What Piece of the Puzzle are You?
I enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles. I find them relaxing and also it challenges and refreshes my brain. As I do them I am often reminded of the body of Jesus Christ and how there are many parts that make a whole and that all fit together in unity to help make it function.
In a puzzle there are many pieces that make a whole (picture). Pieces are placed together or linked together to complete a picture. Something that seems to be broken is fixed or made whole (united). Pieces are placed or fitted to where they belong. Each part needs other parts.
How true is this in being part of Christ’s body?
What do I do first? ~ I sort pieces into colours and keep the straight-edged ones separate so that I can make the border first. Then I match the pictures and try fitting them together. Mistakes are often made as pieces can look similar. Perseverance is needed (trial and error). One must learn to be observant and detect similarities and differences.
I am very careful about losing pieces as it is very disappointing if a piece is missing. You never really know that until the puzzle is near completion.
Where do you fit?
Where is your piece to be placed? There is only one place for each piece in a puzzle. Sometimes you think you have the right piece and it can fit, but as you continue making the puzzle you find it was wrongly placed. Isn’t this what can happen in church life too? Often a person is placed wrongly but almost right. Make sure you are in the right place so that the body can function without hurting. Each part helps the other part so the body can be healthy and full of love. You are Christ’s body. The body needs you to help it function. Every part depends on the other parts (links). You supply something that others can’t. It is all the different but similar parts (pieces) arranged and working together that makes a healthy church. We are the church. There is something for you to do. What piece of the puzzle are you?
One Body with Many Parts: (1 Corinthians 12:12-31, NLT)
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honourable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honourable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honour and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honoured, all the parts are glad.27 All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.
I love the words of this Hymn by: William T. Meyer
There’s a work for Jesus, ready at your hand,
It is a task the Master just for you has planned.
Haste to do His bidding, yield Him service true;
There’s a work for Jesus none but you can do.
Chorus: Work for Jesus, day by day,
Serve Him ever, falter never; Christ obey.
Yield Him service loyal, true,
There’s a work for Jesus none but you can do.
There’s a work for Jesus, humble though it be,
It is the very service He would ask of thee.
Go where fields are whitened, and the labourers few;
There’s a work for Jesus none but you can do.
There’s a work for Jesus, precious souls to bring,
Tell them of His mercies, tell them of your King.
Faint not, nor grow weary, He will strength renew;
There’s a work for Jesus none but you can do
~ Jean Francis.
Bible Readings: Romans 12; Ephesians 4:1-16; Colossians 3:17, 23-24.
Prayer: “Father, I come to You in the precious name of my Lord Jesus and ask You to help me to know where I fit in the purposes of Your Kingdom. Help me to be more sensitive to You – and to others - so that I can perceive and discern when You are speaking to me, to know who I should be working with, so we can fit perfectly together in Your plans. I want to do Your will fully, and realize that it can only happen as I have a divine connection with You. Speak to me today I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
"The Gospel Faith Messenger" Ministry. PO Box 57, Paraparaumu 5254, New Zealand. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.