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Focus on Faith
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Bound Together by Love
BY Jerry Ousley
When our children were young I used to tell them a story I actually "borrowed" from the old Disney movie,
"Song of the South." In the movie several stories were told about Briar Rabbit, Brier Fox, and Brier Bear. Our
children loved those stories about Briar Rabbit and the situations he got into. Of course I couldn't remember
the stories word for word and I would do a bit of improvising in order to complete the story, but it didn't matter
to our children. I often wonder if they enjoyed the stories as much as they did my voice impressions, and just
the fact that Dad told stories to them.
Anyway, the one about Briar Rabbit that I have in mind was about a fake figure made of tar. Perhaps you
remember that story. Briar Fox and Briar Bear, in effort to catch Briar Rabbit, had made a figure out of tar.
Briar Rabbit was so used to speaking to everyone he met that when he came upon the tar figure, tipped his
hat and said "Good morning," he was infuriated when it didn't speak back. That just wasn't Southern etiquette
at all. In the course of the story Briar Rabbit became so angry that he began to hit the tar figure in order to
teach this ill mannered rascal how to be polite. First his right hand plowed into it, causing him to get his hand
stuck. Then he hit it with his left hand, his right foot, his left foot, and finally with his forehead, all in effort to
make that tar figure let him loose. The short of it was that the tar worked as a very sticky glue and Briar Fox
and Briar Bear had finally caught Briar Rabbit. Of course Briar Rabbit used his wits to outsmart the two and in
the end he got away, and I'll bet he thought twice about striking a lone figure sitting along the road.
Depending on our occupation there are many ways to fasten things together. Construction workers use nails,
screws, and tacks to hold the wood together. Other occupations use various forms and types of chemical
glues. Then there's always my favorite Good old Duct Tape! I've often been accused of over using this
product but now let me tell you, that stuff holds things together!
We've been talking about the Body of Christ. We discussed how that each of us is a very important member
and part of the great Body. But something has to hold us together. If we weren't bound together we'd fly apart
and everyone would just be doing their own thing, fighting against each other, and causing confusion and
destruction to the Body.
I guess, in reality, in a way that is taking place today. Ministries are at odds against each other, some feel like
they're the only ones who've got it right and struggle against everyone else. When the Body of Christ acts
that way it really slows down the process of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and it is NOT His way.
There is glue that holds together the Body of Christ that is stronger than any adhesive bond known today,
including Duct Tape. It is simply love. In the Book of John, Jesus told us that this is how the world would know
that we were Christians - if we loved each other. Jesus also gave this to us as a "New Commandment." He
said that we were to love each other just like He loved us. If you really stop and think about it, it's a pretty tall
order to love others like Christ loves us.
In 1 Corinthians 13 we are told about charity. Many versions of the Bible have converted the word charity to
love. Love is a good word but the thing I like about charity is that it is "love in action." It is love that does
something. I believe it's important for Christians to love each other in definition of the word "charity." It's way
too easy to say "I love you," and do nothing to show our love. As the Body of Christ we need to actually fall in
love with our brothers and sisters. We need to give them support in their part of ministry. We need to stop
competing to see who can be the most popular or raise the biggest offering or have the largest congregation
and get down to the business of God. The only way we can do that is to come together and be bound
together and the only glue that will get that job done is LOVE.
Jerry D. Ousley is the Author of four books, "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey" "Ordeal" and "The Spirit Bread
Daily Devotional." Listen to our daily broadcast Spirit Bread. Find out more by visiting www.spiritbread.com
or email us at jousley@spiritbread.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
BY Jerry Ousley
When our children were young I used to tell them a story I actually "borrowed" from the old Disney movie,
"Song of the South." In the movie several stories were told about Briar Rabbit, Brier Fox, and Brier Bear. Our
children loved those stories about Briar Rabbit and the situations he got into. Of course I couldn't remember
the stories word for word and I would do a bit of improvising in order to complete the story, but it didn't matter
to our children. I often wonder if they enjoyed the stories as much as they did my voice impressions, and just
the fact that Dad told stories to them.
Anyway, the one about Briar Rabbit that I have in mind was about a fake figure made of tar. Perhaps you
remember that story. Briar Fox and Briar Bear, in effort to catch Briar Rabbit, had made a figure out of tar.
Briar Rabbit was so used to speaking to everyone he met that when he came upon the tar figure, tipped his
hat and said "Good morning," he was infuriated when it didn't speak back. That just wasn't Southern etiquette
at all. In the course of the story Briar Rabbit became so angry that he began to hit the tar figure in order to
teach this ill mannered rascal how to be polite. First his right hand plowed into it, causing him to get his hand
stuck. Then he hit it with his left hand, his right foot, his left foot, and finally with his forehead, all in effort to
make that tar figure let him loose. The short of it was that the tar worked as a very sticky glue and Briar Fox
and Briar Bear had finally caught Briar Rabbit. Of course Briar Rabbit used his wits to outsmart the two and in
the end he got away, and I'll bet he thought twice about striking a lone figure sitting along the road.
Depending on our occupation there are many ways to fasten things together. Construction workers use nails,
screws, and tacks to hold the wood together. Other occupations use various forms and types of chemical
glues. Then there's always my favorite Good old Duct Tape! I've often been accused of over using this
product but now let me tell you, that stuff holds things together!
We've been talking about the Body of Christ. We discussed how that each of us is a very important member
and part of the great Body. But something has to hold us together. If we weren't bound together we'd fly apart
and everyone would just be doing their own thing, fighting against each other, and causing confusion and
destruction to the Body.
I guess, in reality, in a way that is taking place today. Ministries are at odds against each other, some feel like
they're the only ones who've got it right and struggle against everyone else. When the Body of Christ acts
that way it really slows down the process of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and it is NOT His way.
There is glue that holds together the Body of Christ that is stronger than any adhesive bond known today,
including Duct Tape. It is simply love. In the Book of John, Jesus told us that this is how the world would know
that we were Christians - if we loved each other. Jesus also gave this to us as a "New Commandment." He
said that we were to love each other just like He loved us. If you really stop and think about it, it's a pretty tall
order to love others like Christ loves us.
In 1 Corinthians 13 we are told about charity. Many versions of the Bible have converted the word charity to
love. Love is a good word but the thing I like about charity is that it is "love in action." It is love that does
something. I believe it's important for Christians to love each other in definition of the word "charity." It's way
too easy to say "I love you," and do nothing to show our love. As the Body of Christ we need to actually fall in
love with our brothers and sisters. We need to give them support in their part of ministry. We need to stop
competing to see who can be the most popular or raise the biggest offering or have the largest congregation
and get down to the business of God. The only way we can do that is to come together and be bound
together and the only glue that will get that job done is LOVE.
Jerry D. Ousley is the Author of four books, "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey" "Ordeal" and "The Spirit Bread
Daily Devotional." Listen to our daily broadcast Spirit Bread. Find out more by visiting www.spiritbread.com
or email us at jousley@spiritbread.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
