Unintentional but Still There

Unintentional but Still There 

by David Brenneman 

Our days are filled with the intentional and the unintentional as we look at this passage.  

Oftentimes our worst are those we choose to hide from ourselves.  To have passages in the Bible about the body of Christ, it's parts and its members, means there's food for thought to be gained from this. 

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.  For the body is not one part, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?  But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But now there are many parts, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable,  whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked,  so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another.  And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?  All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?  But earnestly desire the greater gifts."  1 Corinthians 12:4-31 NASB. 

We can unintentionally forget to do something we committed to do in Christ. We read here in Psalms 19:12-14 that we read at first. What we can also do is pursue that which we aren't to be doing in Christ as well.  

I often, if not daily, ask Jesus to forgive me of my sins, those that I am aware of and those that I am not.  It wasn't until finding that picture again from Psalms 19 this morning that I finally saw a solid Biblical basis for it.

The other portion of what's written today seems to be about the other side of the coin in the unintentional, that being the intentional things we do.  

Again, as said earlier, if it were included in the Bible, it's therefore important because the Spirit put it there. Either as an example, as an encouragement or a warning. 

Jesus Himself took up the warning portion.  There will be those standing before Jesus claiming to have done many things in His name. He will tell them to depart from Him for He never knew them.

There's also going to be those who ARE in Christ who decided, on their own part, what part of the body they were going to be. Who will find out, albeit too late, that they were not to have done those things. 

We read in Romans 11:29 that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.  Meaning they were specifically bestowed to each person, intentionally and on purpose, for HIS purpose for each.

It's been a driven point to me personally to be found by Jesus doing that which He called me to be doing.  To be sure of what it is and to do it to the best of my ability and knowledge.  As Jesus said friendship with the world means enmity with God.  If the world is singing high praises concerning you, be wary and be warned.  Jesus said in Matthew 16:26 NASB "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

We all have much on our plate these days.  Trying to be true to our calling in Christ Jesus as well as living in this foreign land that is dead set on obliterating the Church of God.  

Word to the wise is that if you are in Christ Jesus you're at some point going to suffer for your beliefs.  Jesus said that. 

Another word to the wise is that if indeed you are in Christ Jesus, His enemy knows full well who you are and whose you are. 

Pray at all times, pray without ceasing. 

Take up the shield of faith. Wield the sword of the Spirit.  Don't let it dangle at your side. Do something with it. 

Be sure of your calling in Christ Jesus. 

Be sure you aren't living a life pleasing only to you and by doing so are living outside the will of God for you. 

Be sure that you are a listener of the Word of God. 

Be sure you are a doer of the Word and not just a hearer only. 

Be sure that you're cleansed daily of your known and unknown sins.

Be sure that you are doing what you are to be in the body of Christ and do it well. 

Be that kind of Believer that sincerely seeks to hear "Well done!" When you see Jesus face-to-face.