…ye all are partakers with me of grace.
Phil 1:7 (ASV)

While Paul was the star, the one with the great revelation, and the leader of major think tanks of the early church, there was an understanding that went with him wherever he went, that everything he gained, everything he experienced in the way of grace was not his alone, but directly shared by those who had become a part of his heart. For him to have ‘ascended’ somewhere off by himself would have had much less of an effect both for him and all of us who were and are in such need of what he had to share. He seemed to display this incredible drive to press ever closer to his place by the Father with a purpose of taking as many others there with him.

I was fortunate in high school to play on a state championship football team. There were several elements that enabled us to make it all the way through the season to ultimately triumph in the final game, but there was one individual that really made the difference, that we could not have won without. He was a great all around athlete also dominating in wrestling and track to be chosen as the athlete of the year for the state of Colorado. Because he carried the ball, blocked and dominated on defense we were able to defy size differences and persistent odds. There was something else about him, though, that made victory possible for us as a team. He had an understanding that winning as a football player was not something that could be done on his own, that every personal victory was completely dependent on and shared with each and every other member of the team. I as his backup running back didn’t start but one of the games and definitely wasn’t even noticed beside him, but yet I could claim the same championship status as he, and in actuality, the part I did have to contribute was key to the success he enjoyed.

There is a necessity in the pursuit of the kingdom for there to be an understanding that this is a shared pursuit, that any progress made will be dependent on and shared with those other members of the body we’ve been fortunate enough to encounter. While there may be personal revelations and individual spiritual discoveries, their ultimate impact and significance in the larger kingdom game will have much to do with how they are shared rather than horded. In fact their sharing is what they were really intended for. Also, the contributions of each member or player, is just as significant as any noticed ones with the success and effectiveness of any leadership totally dependent upon the participation of each one who will put on a uniform, go to practice and show up for the game. Each one of us as we partake of the grace that is ours in Christ is doing so together with a body that we need and is in need of our part.

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Eph 4:16 (KJV)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 at 7:17 am and is filed under Encouragement, fellowship, Love, Relationship. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.