Worth a Thousand Words

When trying to understand a concept, sometimes a comparison or a visual can be very helpful. The inspired writers of the New Testament used that technique a great deal, especially when talking about the people of God.

For example, Paul says that we are the “family” or the “household of God” (1 Timothy 3:15). A household in those days included everyone; mother, father, children, aunts, uncles, cousins and even those who worked for the family. It was a broad and inclusive idea. Everyone had a place and everyone belonged.

Continuing that idea of belonging is the concept that we are “the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12-20). Just as in our physical bodies, each part contributes to the whole and makes things better. In God’s kingdom, there are no unnecessary parts. Everyone has a place.

Other word pictures stress the closeness that we have with God and his son. Revelation 19:7-9 tells us that we are “the bride of Christ”. Now that is something! God chooses the closest human relationship that we have, that of a husband and wife, to describe his relationship with us. Think about that for a while.

Other more common pictures are that of “Sheep with their shepherd” (John 10) or a “Father with his child” (Galatians 4:4-7). Both of those pictures are images of protection, provision and care.

We are also called “God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Fields are used to grow certain things. Buildings are built with a specific purpose in mind (you build barns differently than houses because they have a different job). This reminds us that we have certain things to contribute and certain purposes to live out. As Paul said, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

These pictures remind us that we have a good message to share. They are positive and each of them speaks about how much God loves us.

Fortunately, the pictures say it all.

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