Edifying each other

We should constantly strive to achieve total humility thinking of ourselves no better than anyone else, but rather willingly and joyfully serving and edifying one another. Edification can be manifested via various acts being dependent upon the situation. For example, if a spiritual brother or sister is feeling down, a simple word of encouragement may assist them in realising, that although they may be emotionally drained or burdened, God will never leave their side and that we are there to help them through difficult times. Another example would be to attempt to break away from our comfort zones and proactively introduce ourselves to new parishioners. By so doing, your act of kindness, warmth and genuine display of love will leave a lasting impression upon this person or persons and may ultimately be the difference between them drawing nearer to God or walking away from the faith.

We have been called to love one another as Christ has loved us, John 13:34. If we are to love one another as Christ has loved us then we must always think of and act towards one another with a fervent desire of servitude. By edifying each other we are ultimately building up the members of the Church and this will have a positive affect on the person being edified and on the entirety of the church in general. We read in Ephesians 4:11-16 (NKJV)

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, [12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, [13] till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; [14] that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, [15] but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- [16] from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

And again in Romans 14:19 (NKJV)

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

We are all a part of one body spiritually united in the love of Jesus Christ who is the Head of the Church, so if one part of the body is injured the other parts should do what they are able, to ensure that specific part is cared for and ultimately healed. If we cut ourselves, don't we clean up the wound and bandage it? Or do we ignore it and allow it to become infected? No, we do what we can to heal ourselves and we should respond with the same desire and concern for members of the spiritual body of Christ.

Edification can also be acted upon in times of peace, joy and happiness. We can send messages of encouragement to one another, call on one another and ask about each other, discuss the love of God with one another, read the Bible together or simply carry out a random act of kindness toward one another. We should behave with other members of our spiritual body by displaying kindness, by forgiving and by exhibiting genuine love and concern that will ensure Christ is glorified and that His church is edified. We sometimes forget to edify one another and inadvertently act in a manner that is contrary to God's will but is in conformity with the will of the world, we are all guilty of forgetting the importance of engaging with one another in a manner that is in complete contrast to that of the world. Always remember that we have Christ abiding in us as we are partakers of His sanctifying Body and Blood, we are not of our own and we should reflect upon the significance of this mystery when conversing and dealing with our brothers and sisters in the faith, as they too, have Christ abiding in them.

Amen