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Have you ever had a day when you weren’t fully up to “par?” I had one such day yesterday . . . 

My favorite day of the week is Sunday. Since God has allowed me the high honor of serving Him in full-time youth ministry (again, at the greatest place to ever call home), I have lived each week from Sunday to Sunday. You just never know what God is going to do in my church family when we meet together. And besides all that, I just can’t wait to see my church family!
And yesterday was no exception. I was looking forward to seeing everyone, and to meeting together with God. I couldn’t wait to see what He had in store for us on yet another awesome Victory Sunday.

But my head was killing me. And when my head decides to ache, I’m not at full functional by any means.
I’ve had migraines for years, but sort of went into “remission” I guess you could say, for the past several years due to a prescription I was on. But I stopped taking it about 10 months ago, and have been doing well since. . . Until the past few weeks. 

The headaches have returned, with a vengeance.

To be perfectly honest, the pain isn’t the worst part for me. You see, I love what I do. I love the people God has given me to serve Him alongside. I love seeing students growing in their walks with Christ. I love seeing children come to know Him and fall more in love with Him daily. I LOVE MY JOB! So the worst part of the headaches is the loss of function that I have when the headaches show their face. I’m just not myself, and I don’t like it.
I can feel the difference when I’m not fully functional, even if others can’t notice. My personality isn’t quite as bubbly. My ability to listen in a conversation isn’t quite as keen. My thoughts are clouded and I can’t form my words quite as well as I’d like to. And I get frustrated. I just don’t like not being fully functional.

And so is the church today . . . Paul said that the church is the “body of Christ.” He goes on to say that a body has members (arms, legs, ears, a nose, mouth, eyes, etc.). If one member isn’t doing its job – it isn’t fully functional and the whole body suffers. I honestly believe that’s why churches across the nation today aren’t exploding with growth as they reach a lost nation with the gospel. It’s sad but true – they just aren’t fully functional. They’ve got a few members who just aren’t pulling their weight.
So today – what about you? 

Are you the arm that has decided to go numb to the events around you? 

Are you the leg that just isn’t carrying your weight? 

Are you the eyes that choose not to see the hurt and pain in those around you?

Are you the ears that have chosen not to hear the cries for hope and help of a lost world?
Join me in committing ourselves to being the fully functional, totally committed, radically living members of the body of Christ that He’s called us to be. Give yourself no matter what “breaks, rips, or tears” as the late Bro. Bill Birdsong used to say. No matter who hurts your feelings, who gets on your nerves, who makes you mad, or who stabs you in the back – you’re going to be and one who He wants you to be no matter what. Then, and only then, will the church of the Lord Jesus Christ be at its full capacity, and fully functional for His honor and glory again.

That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

Copyright © 2022 by Blake Martin @https://pastorblakeman.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/fully-functional/ No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org.