Let's not be Jesus' hangnail...

Hey Friends…
 
Random and awkward question: Have you been thinking about your big toe all day today? No? It’s not been top of mind? Huh. But I bet if it was in serious pain right now, it would be controlling your every thought. What does this have to do with Jesus and hangnails? And why do I need to care? I’ll tell you more in Deeper Thoughts below…
 
But first… there’s a lot of new stuff for you to know…
 
·      We will share an update on the direction of our church and our facility expansion THIS Sunday morning. Be sure to attend or catch it online.
 
·      Seeking God in fervent prayer is the most important aspect of who we are:
 
o   Thank you to all who participated last weekend in our 24-hour prayer vigil and worship night. The movement of the Holy Spirit was palpable. We’ll share stories of all God was doing over the next couple of weeks.
 
o   Please consider joining us for prayer every week—Sundays, 9:15 a.m. for our 25-minute weekly prayer meeting in the sanctuary.
 
o   We have two more prayer vigils coming: A 12-hour prayer vigil throughout the day on Saturday, December 14 and another 24-hour prayer vigil and worship night sometime mid-January.
 
o   Put your prayer needs on the prayer wall in the sanctuary! Let’s actively trust the Lord for the things going on in our lives by presenting them to the Body of Christ for prayer and spiritual victory… c’mon, let’s be honest… if we are truly handing our stuff over to God in communal prayer, there should be 120 new prayer cards every week at Mt. Hope!!!
 
·      LADIES: Join us for our “Friendsgiving Breakfast”—potluck, fellowship, games, and fun as we celebrate our many blessings--Saturday, November 23, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Click here for more info and to RSVP! (And mark your calendar for December 14 for a ladies’ cookie exchange! More info to come!)
 
·      Christmas!! Mark your calendars for Sunday evening, December 8 for our annual Kids Connect Christmas Pageant and All-Church Christmas Party. More details to come!
 
·      New teams are forming! If you’d like to help make people feel uniquely welcome at Mt. Hope, click here to RSVP for an informational meeting NEXT Sunday, November 24 after church; If you’d like to dig deep into our church’s history and help us restore and improve the graveyard, click here to RSVP for a kick-off meeting NEXT Sunday evening, November 24 at 5:00 p.m.
 
·      Don’t forget “The Daily Six”, our 6-minute video released every Monday through Thursday as we study through the Book of Acts together. Click here to sign up for daily reminder emails—or you can just find the videos on our YouTube channel each morning.
 
OK…that’s it today for you email skimmers and those who have onuxophobia. BUT…
 
 
Some Deeper Thoughts…
 
My apologies to you onuxophobia sufferers—those with a phobia of toenails.  It’s an actual thing, albeit probably not very prolific.
 
But you know what is also a thing? And this one is ubiquitous for sure. Hangnails. Hopefully they don’t happen too often for you, but we’ve all had them. They are not deadly, but they sure are annoying, are they not? In fact, when you have one, it can occupy a tremendous amount of your attention and concern.
 
The rest of your body can be in fantastic shape. But have a hangnail or an ingrown toenail, and it will put the entire system into high alert and focus.
 
No, I am not suffering from the delirium of a toe infection as you probably think right about now. “Chris, how in the world is this disgusting conversation happening in the first place, and more importantly, what does this have to do with me and Jesus Christ?” I’m glad you asked.
 
We need to be sure we don’t give Jesus a hangnail.
 
Huh?
 
Yep. Jesus is in perfect shape. He always has been. But there are tiny, seemingly unimportant parts of his body—like a toenail—that if they are not working properly, his whole body is going to be out of whack.
 
You might be one of those tiny little parts.
 
Don’t believe me? Let’s look at the scripture: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). So, let's set the level set on this: Jesus has a body, and you are part of it. Of course, it’s not a physical, three-dimensional, 165-pounds, 5’9” anthropoid. But it is a physical reality made up of all the living believers in Jesus.
 
You cannot say you’re not a part of it: “Now the body is not made up of one part but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body” (1 Corinthians 12:14-15... oh, and keep reading on through verse 25… ).
 
Here is where Jesus’ hangnails become relevant: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).
 
The Eads Translation, coming soon to a bookstore near you: “If Jesus has a hangnail, every part of his body will suffer. Don’t be Jesus’ hangnail.”
 
Bottom line: Jesus Christ came to bring the life of God to every person on the planet. To achieve this, there was much he alone had to do in his 3-D, 165-pounds, 5’ 9’’ physical body during those 30+ years on earth, not the least of which was to die on a Roman cross for our sins and then conquer the grave and rise again. But then, there is more. To bring the life of God to every person on the planet, he presently needs a physical connection point--a body—in every corner of the planet to be his hands, and feet, and voice, and witness.
 
Enter you and me. Tiny, seemingly insignificant you and me.
 
Each one of us is a key part to the physical body of Christ in this world today. If we do not do our part, Jesus’ whole body will suffer. Just like that pain in your big toe will put your whole healthy 5-foot-plus self into a painful funk, if we fail to function as God designed us, all of Jesus suffers.
 
Let’s not be the hangnail in the body of Jesus. Let’s step up to discovering which part of the body we are and what we are supposed to do.
 
Are you unclear on what part you play? That’s normal. So, let’s peel back another layer of scriptures this Sunday and figure it out. “The Normal Christian Life.” It’s “not weird, not weak, not wandering.” We have a calling, we have a part to play… and best of all, we have the power of the Holy Spirit who equips us for the work.
 
Shall we step up? Let’s learn to function exactly as designed. Can’t wait to unpack this with you on Sunday!!
 
Much love to all…
 
Chris Eads
Mt. Hope Pastor
Friend