If We Are the Body..?

But if we are the body, why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the body, why aren't His feet going? 

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

Those are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs, If We the Body by Casting Crowns. And they speak volumes. Ask yourself those questions. Why isn't His love making a bigger difference throughout the world? Why is it being held back? You know why? Because we hold it back.

How many of you pray for something, then forget about it until you realize you should pray about it again? I've done that plenty of times. You see, we're always taught that God can do anything. And He can. But we need to let Him work in us. If we listen to Him and obey what He's telling us, we will see great things done with and in our lives. If we resist Him though, we're pushing His power away.

When you pray for something, how do you expect Him to answer? As an example, I'm sure we all pray for the homeless or starving people of this world at some point in our lives. And that's great. But what do you expect to happen? Clothes to magically appear in front of them? Food to rain down from the sky? Someone else to help them? Here's an interesting thought to ponder. Why don't you be the answer to his and your prayers? What if you pray and pray for God to help the poor man on the street, but He is telling you, "My child, you are the help he needs. Spread my love." 

We have such a powerful calling. We are God's hands and feet! He works through us. How awesome is that?? But we have to actually let Him do His thing. Yes, pray about it. Ask God for guidance. Ask Him what to do, what to say, how to help. But almost every problem that we see, we can do something about it! Why? Because God wants to work through us. He wants to show us how to help each other and show His love to everyone. He's right there, ready to listen to our concerns and worries and to help us figure stuff out. But we also need to be there for Him. If we all just sat back and said, "Okay, God. You do it by yourself," what would happen? I'm sure He could do that, but it's not His will. Part of having faith in God is taking action. He's given us everything we need to help. Now we need to do our part, listen to Him and take action!

James 2:14-17 

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?                           So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.