Daily Thought for Wednesday, March 30th

March 30, 2011

The Body, Part Eight (The Reproductive System)

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost

which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:19

Today’s Thought:

“If you don’t have a teacher you can’t have a disciple. ” – Dallas Willard

Today’s Question

Did you know that; “Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other?” – Matthew Henry

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“....Christ did not appoint professors, but followers. If Christianity ... is not reduplicated in the life of the person expounding it, then he does not expound Christianity, for Christianity is a message about living and can only be expounded by being realized in men's lives.”      – Soren Kierkegaard

It is neither my desire nor my intent to go into the details of the anatomical parts of the human bodies reproductive systems, nor is it to address the biological functions of reproduction: but rather to address the concept of reproduction within the Body of Christ.

The process of reproduction is a simple concept to embrace – it simply means to make more.

We are instructed to make disciples of all men, and I want us to realize there is more to the making of a disciple than just introducing him/her to the gift of God’s salvation.

That act in and of itself, is simply bringing that person to the place where they are willing to commit to becoming a disciple.  The true work of making a disciple comes with the teaching, nurturing and showing by example that enables that new believer to grow in their relationship and to mature in the faith.

And as a part of the body it is incumbent on every member to help facilitate this process, perpetually.

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of becoming." - Goethe

The task of reproduction, from a spiritual perspective, is more about living the lessons to be taught than it is about the telling of what needs to be learned.  It is our lives that become the lessons and our examples that produce those who could be called the offspring of our faith.

And this is the responsibility and duty of every part (member) of the body of Christ.

Today’s Verses:

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.  Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

                        Psalms 127:1-5

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

                        Mark 16:15-16

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may a live a life that teaches others what it means to live for you so that if they learn anything from what I say and do it will bring them closer to you.  May my life be filled with spiritual offspring and your children whom I can help foster in their faith.

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