From him (Christ) the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love,
as each part does its work. Eph. 4:16
A common sight on the paths of East Africa is a woman walking to
market with a load of produce on her back and on top of that, a child.
Her hands are never still, for while walking she is usually weaving a basket
or 'kiondo” out of sisal strings. These “kiondos” are both durable and
attractive. What makes them so? The answer lies mainly in their structure,
the interlacing horizontally and vertically of many strings. Each single
string must be strong enough to carry its share of weight and yet be flexible
enough to bend back and forth in compliance with other strings in a common
pattern.
The Body of Christ is structured like a “kiondo”. It needs both leaders
(vertical strands) and followers (horizontal strands). Each single strand
must be strong for service and yet flexible in accommodating others in
the weaving process. The leaders must be just as flexible as the followers
if the spiritual “kiondo” is to be well woven and thus strong, durable,
useful and attractive.
Examine yourself. Are you so rigid or unbending in your nature that
the Lord has difficulty weaving your life into compliance with the needs
of others in the Body? In your innermost self, are you spiritually strong
to carry your share of the spiritual responsibilities in the Body? How
durable are you as a member of the Body? Are you attractive in your nature,
conversation, the way you perceive others? Or are you like a “misfit” strand
of sisal, stiff and stubborn? God wants to melt, mold, and shape you for
His glory.
From Patterns for Life, a daily devotional for health professionals.
Copyright 1996, MAP International, Africa (used with permission).
