ONE PIECE AT A TIME

For even as the body is one and

yet has many members, and all the

members of the body, though they

are many, are one body, so also

is Christ.

For the body is not one member,

but many.

I Corinthians 12:12,14

It's something I used to love doing that of putting together piece or jig-saw puzzles. I've had my eye on a couple of them that has a Park theme and finally purchased two of them. They each have 550 pieces which once opened looks more like 5500 pieces. I purchased two of them, one being a favorite church we have visited many times in Cades Cove and another of a cabin scene. They are both beautifully photographed and then rendered into their many pieces with the intent of producing something very original..

The church puzzle looked to be an easier one so tackled it first. I dumped all the pieces on a table and for some reason, they didn't look at all like the picture on the box. As I sorted through all of the pieces, I pulled to one side any piece of the puzzle that had one very flat edge. Those pieces in essence would serve as a boundary for the puzzle, but not exactly a frame. The whole puzzle would through various pieces work into that frame. No pieces of the puzzle would fit outside of the the established boundary.

It seemed so appropriate as I put the church and it's surroundings together that it took every piece of that puzzle for it to be complete. As I separated all the pieces, it was obvious that some were similar and alike in shape, but were each different in color from all the rest. We are all made in God's image, but we are definitely different shapes and shades to say the least. Have you looked around your church worship center lately to notice all the differences in those sitting in the pews? Each different in clothing, size, age, shape, but still a brother or sister in Christ. The makings of a beautiful completed puzzle.

No matter how I tried to force a certain piece into a certain place because I thought it SHOULD fit, it didn't and I was frustrated. I've watched through the years in church settings, folks either being forced or forcing themselves into areas of service where they didn't fit. I've been there and done that and I know the result wasn't what pleased the Lord. For my puzzle picture to be right, the pieces had to fit as the creator of the puzzle intended.

Just as the pieces were fit together to create a beautiful picture of the church, the not so noticeable edging served as the guide, the boundary that lent stability and definition to the puzzle. As a church, we have the Word of God that serves as that boundary for us. We can not go beyond it or we not only mess up the puzzle, but will have ventured beyond truth. Without the Word of God, we have no security or guidelines in our lives let alone words of love and even correction we often need.

When I got to the end of my puzzle venture, I had one empty hole. A piece was missing. It isn't hard for this to happen with a puzzle. A piece can fall off the table or be hidden somewhere near. In any case, the puzzle isn't finished even if only one piece is missing. As I look at my church and Sunday school class, there are people who I don't realize how much they are missed until there is no contact with them for a time. Things just aren't complete when they are missing. By the way, that piece had fallen off the table and under the couch. It was easily retrieved with a broom. I had to ask myself when the last time I went looking for a seemingly lost piece to the GRAND puzzle.

This body, our church, needs every piece (person) in place, serving with others for God's glory. I'm not sure how important every member of a church knows themselves to be. Not all can sing in the choir, teach a class, usher, work in the nursery or serve as a greeter. Perhaps there are those who are prayer warriors we don't even know about. Some are able to give financially to the church on a greater level than others for God's work. During the virus, we have had a faithful deacon and his wife who have kept a check on us. All of these things mentioned and others show a living picture of God's intention for His people. He wants us all, no matter the shape, color or position to serve in His divine puzzle to be Jesus with skin on.

No two puzzle pieces are identical...same with all of us who love and serve Jesus, happy with our place. Result: pure beauty bringing the glory to God He so rightly deserves.

Dear Father, it's such a joy being a part of Your grand plan not just for me but for my brothers and sisters in Christ. May we find fulfillment in serving Jesus together in those places You have designed for us. Keep us mindful when even one of us has fallen away and needs picked up and encouraged so they will fine their rightful place again. Thank You Jesus for making this all possible. In Your precious name....Amen