The Harmony of a United Body

  • Post comments:0 Comments

by Luke Kincaid

Unity is a topic that I have been passionate about for quite some time now. When it comes to the local church it is essential that its members are united for a common purpose while all sharing their unique gifts within the life of their local church:

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 NLT

While browsing YouTube the other day I came across a video by a local artist, The Kiffness, which helped me understand the concept of a body united in harmony in a most vivid way (which will be linked at the end of the blog). As you will see in the video, many different musicians from all around the world collaborated and added their own unique take to the original song. As each contributed part is added, you will hear how the song keeps getting better and better, as the musicians share their gifts and talents in only a way that they can.

The local church is similar in that each of us has a unique role to play. God has gifted us in different ways and when shared within the local church, the greater the harmony that is achieved, and the more we can accomplish together as we experience the power of the harmony of a united body.

 

Much Love,

Luke

Continue ReadingThe Harmony of a United Body

Doing What We Can

  • Post comments:0 Comments

by Luke Kincaid

Last week I found that I was feeling rather down. I was feeling hindered at times by my sadness when trying to comprehend what was going on in our country while also dealing with a few personal things. In these times, I find that I can be largely inactive when it comes to the importance of an active faith. I was reminded this past week that when we are feeling down, we can still do what we can when it comes to serving Jesus. Even small acts of love toward others are possible when we are going through difficult times.

The following verses are one of my biggest motivators when it comes to loving others practically:

14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? – James 2:14-16 NLT

I often pop to our local petrol station to a grab a few things when needed and this is when I often bump into my friend I wrote about last week. Something that I have been doing for him recently is purchasing him some bread and cup of hot coffee when I can. A warm beverage and some food to someone who finds themselves fighting from day to day can be such a blessing. On a few occasions I have also asked the security guards where we are currently staying if they would like something from the shops when I am making a trip.

Now my intention of sharing this with you is not to get brownie points of some sort or to puff myself up, but to instead show you that when it comes to loving others practically, we don’t always have to do this in an extravagant way. We can simply do what we can when we feel led by the Holy Spirit to do something. I often find that when showing obedience in this way it often has a positive impact on me in some way thus proving the following words of Jesus that Paul quotes in Acts 20:35 NLT:

35And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

So even though many of us may be going through times of darkness – may we resolve to do what we can to bring some love and light to the world around us.

 

Much love,

Luke

Continue ReadingDoing What We Can

Jesus – Our Greatest Treasure

  • Post comments:1 Comment

by Luke Kincaid

A few nights ago, at a petrol station, I had such an encouraging conversation with someone I have been building a friendship with. This man’s main source of income is derived from collecting recycling on a daily/weekly basis. He has had a really tough life but as we stood talking, he could not help but openly and publicly declare how amazing and powerful God is.

As we chatted, he was reminded of the chorus of the song “Give Thanks” which says:

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”

After quoting these words he told me to look at his friend who he was with. He pointed out how worn his clothes were and if you had to just look at his outward appearance you would conclude that he was poor. BUT when it comes to our identity in Jesus, we are not defined by what we have but rather who we have – Jesus! It was so encouraging to be reminded that Jesus is the greatest treasure we have in this life:

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. – Philippians 3:8-9 NLT

We ended this conversation by praying together and I went on my way so happy to know that disciples of all walks of life are furthering the kingdom of God in meaningful ways!

 

Much love,

Luke

Continue ReadingJesus – Our Greatest Treasure

Faith & Works

  • Post comments:1 Comment

by Luke Kincaid

One of my favorite scriptures is found in James 2:14-17 (NLT):

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
I am challenged by these Holy Spirit inspired words of James. Walking the talk when it comes to our faith in Jesus is by living out what He commands of us. A faith which is simply proclaimed and not practiced is one which is dead and useless. This leads me to ask myself the question: “Luke, is your faith alive?” And the only way to answer this question is to evaluate how I am currently loving God and people practically.
 
I think it is helpful for all of us to ask ourselves this question. If we truly wish to further Jesus’ kingdom this will only happen through a practical faith. The more people we share Jesus with in both Word and deed, the more we will see people coming to a saving knowledge of Him. And the world definitely needs Jesus!
 
I was reminded of this Scripture in James today while reading through Philippians 3:8-9 (NLT):
 
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
 
After stressing the importance of fixing our thoughts on the right things we see that Paul says that the readers of this letter to the Philippians must keep putting into practice all they have learned and received from him. Again I see that a practical faith is being referenced here. What I really appreciate about Paul is that they were not only to practice what they had heard from him but also what they had seen him do. This mean that Paul himself lived out a practical faith. This is so encouraging because when living out our practical faith we can then lead others through our example. Our words have more authority when backed by action.
 
As I go into this new week I am going to be praying that God gives me more opportunities to show my faith to others through deeds which bring glory to Jesus. May Jesus be magnified through our practical faith as others see that we are not merely proclaiming a faith in Jesus – but we are also willing to prove our faith in Jesus through how we live our lives.
 
Much Love,
 
Luke
Continue ReadingFaith & Works