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Healthy Homes & Families Natural, Biblical, Healthy Living WisconsinChristianNews.com
Volume 25, Issue 1
All For One and One For All
By Chris McMahan April 2024
all of us should be willing to fight on behalf of one who needs our help. It should not matter if there is fame or glory involved for ourselves,
dividual in the body of Christ, I play a role. I have been entrusted with spiritual gifts. But these gifts were not given to me for myself. They
story best of all. When Jesus died on the cross, He did not do for himself, but He did for each of us. The One died for us all. He was given a role,
we stand, divided we fall. “
It is in the last part of this quote, that I think we see a beautiful reminder, merciful warning, and the completion of the truth. We are better to- gether, but if we choose to deny that in our life, as the Church; we will see division and eventually destruction. We need each other. Not just because we are better to- gether; but because by God’s design, we can only be His Church when we function as a complete body. Each part has a role that another part cannot fulfill. No part of the Body can pretend to be an- other. And the whole Body does not function properly unless each part does its job. Are you willing to be a musketeer with me? A mus- keteer for Jesus! Someone who fights for justice in the King’s army? We are better together by God’s design. “All for one and one for all united, we stand divided we fall.” Chris McMahan Email: Happy1970@icloud.com
When I say ‘three muske- teers,’ what comes to mind? Per- haps a candy
bar in the aisle of the grocery store check out. Or perhaps a vintage French novel about three heroic men in the king’s guard who fought for justice. It is the latter of which I speak. There was a famous quote from the book; that even if you have not read “The Three Musketeers,” you’ve probably heard… “All for one and one for all.” This phrase popped into my mind the other day as I was praying. I thought about what an accurate picture it is of the Church that God would like to see here on the earth. Not necessarily the Church that we are today, but something to strive for and aim for. All for one… Just like the shepherd left the flock to go after the one lost sheep, in the parable that Jesus told;
or a monetary compensa- tion. All of us should look to the needs of the one who is hurt, broken, and lost. It should be our ambition, like the good shepherd, to bring those who need our help into the flock. To bring those who have wandered away from the faith back to the king- dom, and to bring those who are lost into the kingdom.
were given to me for the ben- efit of others. As is the na- ture of agape love to be poured out, not because oth- ers are worthy of it; but just because we have it to give, so is the heart of God for each of us in the Church. God wills that we would use what we have been given by Him on behalf of others, for the benefit of others, for the glory of God. We see this ‘one for all’ image in the Easter
an assignment; and fulfilled it….not because He needed to do it for Himself, but be- cause He wanted to do it for us. So, in “The Three Muske- teers,” I see a picture of the Church God wants us to be. All for one and one for all. But we seldom hear the rest of the words that complete this famous quote. “All for one and one for all. United
And one for all …as an in-
This is What I’ve Learned...
... About A Bendable Heart
By Layton Howerton April 2024
Years ago, in the last days of my mother’s life here on earth, my sister tearfully asked her, “Mama, what will we do without you?” and my mothers reply was, “Martha, you’ll straighten your back, put your arms around those who are living, that you love
you, have moved on in their lives. But for some, moving on after this kind of loss seems almost unbearable, so they remain in the dark shadows of their loss, refusing to accept the reality of life without that per- son, and in some ways never embrace the light of day again. Their heart brokenness becomes a significant part of their grief identity, and find themselves never venturing far from the “ghost” in the house of their dearly beloved, whose spirit has long departed. Others though, after some time has passed, by faith, find the strength and courage to do what my mother said to my sister, in straightening their backs, putting their arms around those who are living that they love and who love them, letting go of the physical pres- ence of their lost loved one, and move forward, into the ever embracing light and hope of God’s promises, becoming the blessed ones, “The ones whose hearts can bend,” as Albert Camus said “…that shall never be broken.” Jesus said… “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be trou- bled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 (ESV).
I recently attended the me- morial service of a dear friend’s mother who had passed away after a long battle with cancer. Her service was a beauti- ful tribute to her life that
was attended by her family and friends from near and far. The reflec- tions that were shared by those in at- tendance were loving and kind and she will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Death is one of the most difficult as- pects of life to deal with, not only for those who are dying, but for those of us who remain. For some seem to be able to move on relatively quickly, while others suffering with the loss, find it almost impossible to do. Are you currently one of the ones that remain who is suffering and heartbro- ken over the loss of a significant loved one in your life? Albert Camus said, “Blessed are the hearts that can bend; for they shall never be broken.” If you are heartbroken, then I hope this month’s WCN insight will give you some peace and comfort in the midst of your loss, and the grief you’re experiencing.
and love you, let me go, and move on… that’s what you’ll do. Because that’s what we all have to eventually do.” For all of us, the loss of a loved one is sig- nificantly heartbreaking. As a pastor and in my own life, I’ve experienced this kind of great loss, and struggled with the unbear- able grief that can linger long after all the empathy and sympathy of your family and friends who’ve shared in that loss alongside
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