A Prayer About The Body Of Christ

When I consider the worldwide family of God

SAVIOR,

When I first put my trust in you, I became a member of your family, your “body.” Every week I gather with this family for instruction, fellowship, and worship. We serve, encourage, and challenge one another. But your body goes beyond my local church to include brothers and sisters of all ages, worldwide, through the centuries. By your grace, these boys, girls, men, and women live in every corner and culture of the earth, with every language and every station in life. They come in the whole human spectrum—as the Sunday school song proclaims, “Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in [your] sight!” Whatever the differences, all believers are one in you. I know that so many of my brothers and sisters are suffering—mocked, beaten, ostracized, imprisoned, tortured, and even martyred for their faith. In their lands, following you is outlawed. Their only crime is professing your name. Be with them, Lord. By your Spirit strengthen and encourage them. And dear Savior, give me the courage to stand with them for you, regardless of the cost.

Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13