Reflections on the vastness of Christ's Body

Last Sunday my pastor here in Boise was teaching on Romans 16. They have been going through Romans for some time now and are nearly done. I can't tell you how many times I've skimmed over the list of names in Romans 16 like I tend to do with most lists I read in the Bible. Ahh yes, that lady, this guy, those people, cool cool Paul, who cares? What a sad perspective that is to have. But this Sunday it was different. As I listened to the list of people, and to what Jackson had to say about it I began to get this glimpse of the beauty, diversity and greatness of the Body of Christ and began to see my journey, my experience, in a bit of a different light.

I began to think, what would my list look like? If I were to write a letter like Paul's to the Romans, who would it be to? Who would I tell that group of people to greet? And I began to realize what an amazing thing it is that I've been able to live so many places, have been able to meet so many people. I have been really finding a deeper connection to Paul as I've been here in Idaho. In his ministering of the gospel he met people from all over and often would be far from them for a long time. He had actually never even been to Rome at the time of the letter but had met all these people from Rome while he traveled. I began to think of all the people I know all over the world, who are going on missions to places I may never visit. I have been blessed with the ability to meet people from the Body of Christ in Portland, Boise, Texas (Austin,Huntsville, Huston), Czech Republic (all over the country of CZ), Indiana, Illinois, Seattle Washington, Alaska, California, Colorado, Ireland and I'm sure many others. I have friends who are missionaries in Czech, Africa (all over) Asia (all over), Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Germany, and lots of people who are going on short term teams all over the world. And as I reflect on this, I realize how huge the Body of Christ is and how amazing it is that through just a person or two difference in connections I know more of the Body than I could probably ever count! And it increases my passion to see more people join the family and for that glorious day when we will ALL gather as One...