Issue 668 – A Broken Wing – February 27, 2022
Kathy and I came across this Canada goose on our walk around Mill Lake yesterday. It has a broken wing. That disability severely limits the odds of its survival, although some have survived broken limbs before.
Unlike people, geese have no health care plans or hospitals. I know that our health care system has many issues and limitations here in Canada, but having been in other countries, I know it is one of the best in the world. I don’t think we appreciate how blessed we are.
Sometimes the church is referred to as a hospital, which has some merit, but I think the metaphor has some limitations.
The church, the corporate body of believers throughout the ages, is God’s divinely designed body that does the work of His hands here on earth. He is the head, and He guides us by the Word and by His Spirit.
People who don’t know Christ are more than wounded. They are dead in their sins and trespasses, eternally separated from God. Non-believers don’t need a hospital. They need a miracle of mercy to give them life.
We don’t like to think of non-believers as spiritually dead, but it is the truth. Without God, we are more than “lost”; we are the walking dead.
The church is so much more than a “hospital.” It is a critical care ward for the newly resurrected and reborn. It is a rehabilitation facility for those struggling with all the world’s temptations.
The church is a school to teach newborns how to live lives in Christ. It is a citizenship class preparing us for our new citizenship in the Kingdom of God.
The church is a finishing school that teaches us to love one another and be prepared to serve the Lord forever.
When we come to Christ, we are born again, new creations.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus[ by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:1-8
Believers have been born again, and our place is guaranteed but not yet finished works.
The Lord will finish what He started in us.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
He is the head of the church. He is sovereign over everything that exists. Everything falls under His purview to accomplish His purposes. The Spirit will work in us, and the truth will transform us. The Lord will use every facet of life and all that the church is to make us into the people He calls us to be.
Give God the glory that His church is like a hospital and so much more.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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All contents are © 2001, 2022 K. F. “Kevin” Corbin and Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV). Spelling modified to Canadian English as required.
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