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.

I am amused that the Lord arranged for this passage, 11-16, to come up today, when I preached on it Sunday and yesterday! Sunday I used verses 14-15, and yesterday it was verses 11-13, so that leaves this verse! That said, this verse too is important. The point here is that when each part of the Body of Christ, that is, each believer, does their part, the whole Body is built up. One word particularly jumps out at me, and that is “joint.” Joints are unique in that they have a specific place in the body, but they are made to move. They are connections, but if they become rigid, there is a problem. Paul says it is the joints that hold the Body together, and that is worth thinking about. American culture is individualistic to a fault, to the point that we tend to miss this vital detail. We are created as individuals, yes, but we are created to relate to one another, not simply to react but to support and bind, not in a restrictive way but in a constructive way. We become more aware of this physically as we age, as various joint issues tend to arise, but we don’t think about it spiritually, in our interactions with the people around us. Our every interaction with other believers is to build them up, to support, equip, and enable them to do the jobs God has for them. Thinking about that can blow your mind! God’s plans are always far broader and deeper that we perceive, because they include absolutely everything. We can’t see, usually, how our words of encouragement can empower someone to do something they previously didn’t have the courage to attempt. We don’t see, usually, how our little acts of kindness carry those around us through the trials they are experiencing. That’s why it was so powerful when they had a big banquet, right at the close of Fred Rogers’ career, and person after person got up and testified as to the huge difference he had made in their life, primarily through his almost simplistic TV show, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. He never personally met the vast majority of the people he blessed and built up, but God created joints nonetheless, and God was glorified. Very few people indeed have the kind of reach that Fred Rogers had, but the principle is the same. We are to relate to the people around us with God’s grace, not rigidly but flexibly, supporting them while allowing them to move freely, so that they in turn may do all that God has planned for them, for His glory.

I don’t think I’ve ever had this complete a grasp of this verse before, and I’m grateful for this revelation. This isn’t something I grasp naturally very well, because I tend to be an introvert, and dislike noisy social gatherings. However, I’m not called to be Fred Rogers, I’m called to be Jack Garrott, and if God’s plans for me are to be fulfilled, I need to relate rightly to all the people around me. I’ve said many times that God dealt with my introversion by pairing me with about as extroverted, socially adept a wife as could be, and she’s had 57 years to work on me! That work continues, and I’m grateful. We have a rather packed schedule for the next few days, with my having a part in an evangelistic meeting tomorrow, which will cause us to miss the wake of a family friend, but we will go to her funeral on Saturday, around the same time as a couple from another part of Japan, formerly members of this church, will be arriving to stay with us for a couple of days, including Sunday, which is our 57th anniversary! I am not to resent any of that, but allow God to use me in every connection, firmly bonded but fully flexible, so that the Body of Christ may indeed be built up to function as God desires and intends, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this fresh revelation. Guide me now in preparing the notes for what You want me to say on Sunday, particularly since it is Pentecost, as well as draw up the Scripture reading list for June. Thank You for knowing precisely which Scripture is needed for each day, as You demonstrated today. May I be fully faithful and obedient on every level, so that all of Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!