The Body of Christ
Kirsten Brucker // UGA Student & College Intern
This year I am a sophomore at the University of Georgia and I have been reflecting on what my life was like a year ago. I was the typical nervous freshman coming onto campus not knowing many people. I was praying for and seeking out a community that would point me to Jesus in all things. I longed for this community in order to be strengthened by other believers so that we could then go out and share Jesus with those around us.
As it tells us in Proverbs,
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
It is clear that we have been created to be strengthened by each other. One year later and I can gratefully say that God answered this prayer of community…but it didn’t happen overnight. Freshman year consisted of attending various campus ministries and churches and figuring out which friendships would make it past the surface level conversations of “Where are you from?” and “What’s your major?”
An encouragement to any freshman reading this: You may not know who your best friends are the first week of college, but God does. Rest in that truth that He already knows and goes before you in all that you will face this school year.“
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
The unique thing about Athens and UGA that I had not experienced in my hometown was the diversity and strength of the body of Christ. I experienced this right before my freshman year started at the ARCH Retreat, a weekend for Athens freshmen to get connected within the body of Christ. It was amazing to be a part of believers from various churches and ministries all coming together with one goal: to make Christ known. This community is unique because everyone is coming from different places and with different experiences and gifts. Paul mentions this in 1 Corinthians 12,
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
We can rejoice in the fact that the motive behind all that we do is driven by something greater than ourselves, Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross.
During my freshman year, I began to notice that within the body of believers, there are ranges of spiritual maturity. One warning; however, that accompanies this is comparison. The fleshly side of me wanted to compare my walk with Christ to others, but I realized the beauty in the truth that Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 about us being members of the body but making up different parts.
“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?” 1 Corinthians 12:14-19
I love this metaphor because it reminds me of all my body parts that have to work together to accomplish a goal. Think of a simple task we do everyday such as walking. From a broad perspective, our legs and feet are moving us forward, and our eyes are directing our steps because our brain tells them to do so. Not to mention the fact that we use about 200 muscles to take a single step forward, and all of the various internal body parts that are working as we are moving.
This is the same picture of the body of Christ which I have experienced more recently as a Watkinsville Intern. There are different sectors of the internship such as worship, kids, youth, college, community outreach, and missions. All of these have different roles within them. It has been amazing to see just within the sector of college interns how God has given each of us unique gifts to be able to work together and accomplish more for His name.
Regarding the beauty of us having varieties of talents and gifts, we also have an enemy named satan. He tries to tell us that because we aren’t gifted in a certain area like someone else is, we aren’t good enough. These are all lies because it’s not about what we can do for God anyway. God uses our unique gifts to spread the love of Christ. If we embrace the unique gifts we have been given, we can be messengers on this Earth to bring awareness to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Satan also tries to tell us that just because our story doesn’t look like someone else's, it’s not significant. Maybe you’re the one that grew up in church and have been saved since you were young. Or maybe you went down the worldly path for a while and have an incredible testimony of God bringing you from death to life. Both of these stories are of equal value, and it is all by God’s saving grace. You never know how much God can use your testimony to change lives until you start sharing it. Through sharing your story, you can strengthen members of the body.
“But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Corinthians 12:24-26
There is so much to learn from those around you, don’t let comparison steal your joy. What a gift it is that the weight is not on our shoulders alone. This is the beauty of being on a team, that we all bear each other's burdens and lift each other up. This is the body of Christ, working together with different strengths and weaknesses, which amplifies the overall glory we give to God.
Kirsten is a second year intended Marketing major at UGA. She consistently has been attending Watkinsville FBC since January and was baptized in May at the church. She is an intern within the college ministry this school year and will be leading a Tribe as well. She is so excited to see all that God does through this internship, in her heart and in the lives of those around her!
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Will Puckett // UGA Student & College Ministry Intern