The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 speaks of various body parts in regards to spiritual gifts. The hands, feet, eyes etc. This is a wonderful analogy of the importance of each of us in the body of Christ.
Today I want to address our personal bodies and in particular our spines. Do you have a spine or are you a jellyfish?
Scientifically speaking "Your spine is one of the most important parts of your body. It gives your body structure and support. Without it you could not stand up or keep yourself upright. It allows you to move about freely and to bend with flexibility. The spine is also designed to protect your spinal cord. The spinal cord is a column of nerves that connects your brain to the rest of your body, allowing you to control your movements. Without a spinal cord you could not move any part of your body, and your organs could not function. Keeping your spine healthy is vital if you want to live an active life. " (a)
Because of the importance of the spine this word is also used as an adjective: something, as a quality or trait, that constitutes a principalstrength; resolution; stamina; backbone: a situation that would test a person's spine would test our strength, endurance, and will.
Every Christian needs to strengthen their spine. In a world of relative morality and the go along to get along mentality.... actually having a spine can be hard.
Some of us have weak spines unable to move around in the secular world with confidence in Christ or to merely disagree with things we know are not a part of the Christian walk and lifestyle.
Some of us have painful spines, hurt by past injuries that suppress our Christian life and witness. The immobilized spine limits a person's joy in Christ, our boldness and peace.
Some of us have diseased spines, where sin has entered so far into our lives that the disease (sin) defines us not the Word of God. This disease needs treatment and the only cure is Jesus and to apply His teachings to our life like a healing salve.
Some of us have broken spines that lead to paralysis. Being paralyzed, unable to move, grow, or be effective in life is one of the most serious conditions. For the Christian, often fear, anger, bitterness, strife, envy, unforgiveness, and jealousy can cause personal paralysis in our Christian lives.
Some of us have strong healthy spines. Strengthened by reading and studying God's Word, praying, attending worship services, helping the helpless, witnessing and standing strong on the moral code of the Bible not just in word but in deed and lifestyle.
Our spines are tested daily! You need to have a spine in this world. Being a "jellyfish Christian" floating around life without structure or purpose, never bold enough to take a stand for what is right is an empty dead lifestyle. The Christian spine is a BOLD spine.
Brace up your spine with the encouragements found in the Bible:
Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,
in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death
but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
By Robin S. Wilson
By Robin S. Wilson
References:
(a) http://www.allaboutbackpain.com/html/spine_general/spine_general_anatomy.html
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