Going After Strays

We like to think that we can live our lives independently. But, that is not what the church is. Paul described the church in 1 Corinthians as a body with many parts that are each interdependent on one another. We cannot get along without each other. I need you and you need me, and we all need each other because none of has all the gifts. And the gifts that God has given us are to be used to build each other up. They are not given to us for our sake alone. They are not given to build and puff ourselves up. They are given to build up the church. This is the body of Christ in action. Our faith is not just a private matter. And sin is not a trivial matter. It grieves the heart or God. It hurts all our relationships. And we should love each other so much that we are willing to take the risk of being misunderstood if we have to confront someone in love in order to woo them back into the family.