Celebrating Christ's Victory as One

Yesterday I watched a series of video clips that showcased spectacular plays to win football (gridiron) games.  One thing I noticed is when a player celebrated scoring a touchdown, everyone on the field who was part of his team celebrated too.  Linemen who had never caught a pass or scored a touchdown themselves looked as happy as the one who did because they were all part of the same team.  They all shared in the glory of victory.  This is one thing I appreciate about team sports:  it brings together people with different skills and levels of ability and joins them together to compete, to win or lose as a team.

It occurred to me that after a player scores the winning touchdown or breaks a record, they do not celebrate alone.  Teammates rally to congratulate the stellar play that resulted in victory the entire team and coaching staff, fans and a whole city celebrates.  It reminds me of the dynamic at work in the Body of Christ, which is the church, referenced in 1 Corinthians 12:26-27:  "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."  If my finger is throbbing with pain, the rest of the body notices and seeks to render aid.  When believers suffer, others in the church feel their pain.  Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."

A team plays as one when individuals put the team above themselves and also celebrates the accomplishments of each one.  A football game is full of one-on-one matchups, and individual victories pave the way for the success of the team.  The church is different in that Jesus our Head has already been victorious and always leads those who are in Him in victory.  As I saw football players celebrating together, I wondered if many times believers go it alone in the battles they face.  Strongholds were overcome by faith in Jesus when they refused to sin and chose to honour God in obedience.  Yet it is possible no fellow disciples of Jesus rally to them to encourage and exhort them to keep up the great effort because no one even knew a battle was taking place.  Of course Jesus knows about all the trials and struggles He allows, but He has seen fit to make us part of a Body and members of one another.  When we walk in victory it is only due to Jesus Christ, yet it is commendable and edifying to suffer with those who suffer, and rejoice with those who rejoice.

The encouragement and edification of the Body of Christ only functions as designed when we are in fellowship with other believers.  There are some who seek honour for themselves by perpetually lamenting their struggles or boasting in pride, yet our aim ought to be to honour Jesus Christ by loving one another.  Because we are members of one another, Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29-32:  "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."  We can only follow the "one another" commands by being in fellowship with Jesus and one another, and when we do so we glorify Him.