John Chrysostom, an early church father, wrote these words about 1600 years ago:
"Do you see how often Paul puts the health of the entire church community into the hands of each individual Christian?"
Yes! We are called to -- 'serve one another'-- 'be at peace with one another' -- 'live in harmony with one another' -- 'be patient with each other' -- 'love one another' -- bear each other's burdens' -- confess our sins to each other' -- 'edify each other' -- and so many other admonitions.
We all have a part in the nurturing and maturing of those who take this journey with us.
As we nurture each other the whole body of Christ grows stronger!
So it is just as Chrysostom said: the health of the entire church is in the hands of each individual!
I'm thinking about our US constitution. Some responsibilities are listed as belonging to the federal government and some belonging to the states.
But the church is different: everything is our responsibility!
Yes, the health of the entire church rests solely in the hands of each individual! That's us -- it rests in our hands!
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