IT'S ALL ABOUT "ME"

It’s All About “Me”

By Sharon Frame

Forget for a minute what you think it means to “remember.” Travel with me to South Dakota. Visit the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. It’s one of the poorest areas in the country. There, to remember is not to recall. Remember means to restore.

“Re-member” is the name of a non-profit group working to “put back that which is broken.” That’s how founder Keith Titus describes it. Every year, volunteers from across the country sacrifice their time to help the Oglala Lakota people. Dilapidated homes are re-built. The tribe’s quality of life improves. Members reconnect to a stronger, loving community.

This puts me in mind of Jesus’ final rebuilding instruction to his disciples just before his crucifixion. At the last supper he repeatedly urged them to “remember me.”

Listen to 1st Corinthians 11:23b-25: “On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.’ In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.’”

Surly Jesus’ ultimate body and blood sacrifice deserves more than a sacred recollection now and then.

It is believed that the ancient definition of re-member is to “put back that which is broken,” If that’s true, communion is more than just a chance to think back on the miracle of Calvary. It’s also an opportunity for us to restore, revive and build up each other! Hear again the words of Jesus: “Re-member Me.” Put me back together. We are members of the body of Christ. We are his spiritual body parts. So “Me” consists of everyone who has confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Romans 12:4-5 makes it clear that, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”

1st Thessalonians 5:11 urges us to “Encourage each other and build each other up…” But too often the Body of Christ is busy producing free radicals or suicide cells. They cause the body to attack itself, and damage healthy cells. Spiritually, free radicals are strife, jealousy, envy and competition. They plant seeds of discord among the saints. But Jesus said “Re-Member Me.” Restore, uplift, edify and encourage “Me.” That’s how we ensure a healthy immune system in the Body of Christ, His church.

Physically, if you stub your big toe, the entire body is impacted. When you are vibrant and fit the whole body feels exhilarated. So it is spiritually. Yes, we are many members with different functions. Yet we are all connected. What happens to one, impacts all.

So, Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.” And Hebrew 13:11 tells us to “Let brotherly love continue.” Yes, we are our brother’s keeper. 1st Peter 4:8 reminds us to “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Every year on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, strangers from near and far gather to help build up and restore a tribe broken by prejudice and hardship.

Christ was broken and bruised to restore the world. When we restore or uplift someone, we remember him. We unify his body, the church.

So, take time today and purposely re-member, edify or uplift a brother or sister. Give a hug, a smile or an encouraging word. Restore someone’s faith in human kindness, decency and genuine friendship.

Remember, it’s not about you. It’s all about “Me,” the body of Christ.

Scripture Of The Day: "Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." - Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)