“And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” ~Mark 1:4
Today’s verse and writing by Katie Z. Dawson talks about the different roles we as believers take on. The story starts out telling us about John the Baptist in the wilderness. He was calling people to be baptized, calling for repentance and forgiveness. John explains his role in Mark 1: 7-8 “And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” He was talking about Jesus. Paul writes about the body of Christ with many members in 1 Corinthians and in Romans.
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” ~1 Corinthians 12:12
“Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” ~1 Corinthians 12:14
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” ~Romans 12:4-5
The author provides a story about a small church losing some of its members due to their children growing older and larger churches often are able to provide more services geared towards youth. I can relate to this experience because my church has experienced long-term members leaving to go to another church due to activities that they provide. I loved how the minister/bishop responded to a church member that felt ashamed that families were leaving. He said, “Raising babies might be there small part to play and they could joyfully send those families to a place where other needs are met.” People leave churches for all kinds of reasons, it should not be looked at as if the church failed them. Sure, sometimes it is personal and even in those cases, we can and should still be joyful and pray for them to find what they are seeking. Churches are kind of like grocery stores, some like Wal-Mart since it’s usually a one stop to get it all; others may choose Kroger for food items and Target for clothing and household items; some like specialty butchers for meat. It’s about people making individual choices and often has nothing to do with something going wrong at the other places. As believers in Christ, and members of the Body of Christ, we need to and should rejoice that people are seeking God in REAL ways, churches like people are unique and are not one-size-fits-all. Our roles as believers is to lift one another up to God, our roles are to love, teach, accept, respect and pray for others. The writer says, that “churches and its congregation are vehicles for God’s redemption in the world.”
“Are you celebrating that role and playing it faithfully?”
“Are you able to say the world is a better place because of your church?”
“What is God calling you to do to prepare the way for Christ to enter the human heart?”
Breath prayer: Jesus, thank you for the role I can play in your world. Amen
~Blessings and Peace~
References:
https://www.biblegateway.com
The Sanctuary for Lent by Katie Z. Dawson
HOPE SEEKER 
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