Somehow this relationship between us and works can puzzle us, unless we consider the whole of God’s plan from Scripture. Jesus in John chapters 8 and 9 tells (as He stated it) that He is the light of the world; certainly that was true while He was here on this earth, in actually He still is: The Light.

But, He also taught that we are to be His light after He would leave. Somehow we are to do that through our works.

So, in keeping with a works theme; Jesus had said in John 14, that the works that we who follow Him would do would be even greater works, than those which He had done. That kinda blows our mind. We alone can’t do this. It became important for me to realize that this accomplishment can only be realized through us together as His body doing His work together on the earth. But are we? Satan’s plan has always been to snuff the light by creating disunity among us.

So looking deeper Jesus fed the hungry; He healed the sick; He taught the truth. He spread the good news of His coming. Corporately these are to be our works in His name.

1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (KJV)

He gifts us for the work that He calls us to do. His gifts are many but are not all given to any one of us.

Paul says of our gifting: 1 Corinthians 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. (KJV)

His point is, when reading the entire passage, that God works the whole body together for His purpose and glory.

Our individual responsibility for what we do is to God and not to a man. But at the same time it is also to this corporate body of our brothers and sisters. God will use other men whom He has gifted to touch our lives, but still our ultimate responsibility is to Him alone.

Our gifts take on meaning when we find ourselves doing things that not only impact others, but that humble us to the giving of thanks for God’s blessing on us as men who are without Him nothing.

I’ll never forget my own brother Richards letter to me many years ago. It was sent at a time when I was at one of my lowest points in life. What he said left me with no question as to our saviors love for me (for us) even when we are not so lovely. What a gift: to be able to hear from God and speak into someone else’s moments of need. Our greatest need as people of God (an awesome thought) is for His wisdom to be made clear in our life.

In these last days divisions abound in we, the body of Christ. That fact my brethren should not be so:

John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (KJV)

It is not our actions or our words toward the world that will cause the world to know, but our actions and our words to one another; to the body of Christ, which Jesus prayed would be in unity that the world might know who He is sent by. Unfortunately, knowing and actually becoming part of this one body of Christ I am afraid are two very different things.

Praying for the unity in the body that can only come through the unity in the Holy Spirit and His inner working in us individually. You may also want to read the following:

Scriptures Truth Concerning the John 17 Prayer