This has been a very trying time for our family and in the midst of some struggles, I prayed that God would surround us with his love and speak to our hearts the words of comfort and peace that we need at this time. This is not an unusual prayer for me, I have prayed it many times when families and individuals are going through times of suffering. However, as I prayed this prayer yesterday, God dramatically showed me how he sometimes answers that prayer.
Not long after praying this for my family, I was informed that some members of our church (I'm the pastor) called a prayer meeting so that they could gather around my family and pray for us. At 7:30 last night, people gathered around my family and prayed with us through a difficult circumstance. As the prayers were lifted and the hands were laid upon us, I could hear my heavenly Father say, "do you hear my voice, do you feel my touch." In that moment I realized what it really means that the church is the body of Christ. The church as they lifted up prayers to heaven, were His voice bringing comfort to our souls. Their hands laid upon our shoulder, their embrace was His embrace bringing peace to weary souls. In that moment, I could sense God saying, "I have answered your prayer."
We live in a society that is quickly isolating us from each other. We can do almost everything without really interacting with other people. We can bank, we can shop, we can order in food, we can even play games with each other without ever seeing each other or talking. (Confession time, I love Words with Friends.) However, if we are not careful, we can isolate ourselves from God because we are isolated from each other.
The church must always remain counter cultural. The body of Christ cannot afford to isolate ourselves from each other. You may ask how can we do this we meet with each other every week. That is true, but how often do we allow others to get really close? We go to church each Sunday saying to one another "I'm fine." Many walk around with private pain. It is difficult to allow others to be close to us. It is difficult to be vulnerable. But that is what we are called to do. Jesus said, This is how all men will know that you are my disciples, by your love one for another. That is difficult. C.S. Lewis said,
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
As difficult as it is to be vulnerable, it has its reward. When I am vulnerable then the body of Christ has the opportunity to be the hands, the feet, the voice of Christ in my life. When I love and allow others to love me, I can feel the warm embrace of my heavenly Father. That happened to me this week. And I will always cherish that moment. Think about it.
