Bibledoorajar: Functioning in Place

     I think all Bible class participants want to avoid conflict during class discussions. I further think that that may be why many never speak up and share their views. Humanly, rejection is not easily received nor dealt with. After a particularly rejecting episode, I accompanied a sister to a retreat to seek a freshness in the Lord. Being away, we worshiped with a different congregation. What we heard during the praise portion was a reminder that only He is holy and that we only serve one Master. And the sermon? Well, it was on Jesus' admonition to not worry for He has all things covered. Just as those stones on the High Priest shoulders, He will carry each and every one of His to the very "steps" of glory. He knows when each of us was born to the Father and He WILL GET US HOME!
     But now we must consider further. The High Priest also wore before the ark and mercy seat a breastplate. It, too, was composed of twelve stones representing the 12 sons (tribes),  but the precious stones were not placed upon it in birth order. Rather, they were laid out in an order that reflected their diversity. Reuben may have been the first born, but he was not first on the breastplate. The first was Judah( praise).  From there, each stone (tribe) mentioned shone forth with a brilliance of its' own without rivaling the others for glory or beauty. Each had an appointed place that was entirely different from the birth order. No stone was the same as another. One might be extremely bold in color where another flashed it's own peculiar glory and beauty. The stones on the breastplate were unified, but very diverse. The glory seen in each was not intruded on by another, each having its' own place.
     The Father has gifted the living stones of the church in a diverse way, each of us giving forth a brilliance that is different but not defective. It might be defective if it was up to us to maintain it, but it cannot be broken because of the great faithfulness of our High Priest, Jesus. That is why we do not need to worry. Even if another "stone" seeks to conflict with us, Jesus will continue to help us exhibit our peculiar beauty and glory upon which the other cannot intrude. How great is that? What a comfort in times of differences among our brethren. The Bible does not tell us everything about every stone on the breastplate and we in the church will not know each other fully until we are all home where there will be no conflict. And just as now, Praise will have the first place. So praise the Lord, don't worry and shine on. Enjoy the diversity and always remember you have been intentionally placed in the church!

                     "Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place,
                       I can feel God's mighty power and His grace.
                       I can feel the brush of angel's wings,
                       I see glory on each face,
                       Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place."
                                                                    Lanny Wolfe