What does it mean to a lost world, bewildered, bothered, and bickering brethren, sick and struggling souls, dedicated disciples-to You personally-that Jesus Christ is “Head over all things to the church, which is His body” (Ephesians 1:22f)?

First, it means that whoever you are, and wherever you are, Jesus, Who is Savior and sufficient for all (I Pet.2:24; Acts 4:12; Heb. 5:8f) is near you- “at hand” (Phil. 4:4f). As Jesus said “Lo! I am with you always” (Matt. 28:18f). Don’t foolishly flee from Him (which you can’t do anyhow!), but heed Barnabas, and “with purpose of heart...cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23). You will never find better companionship than the Christ!

Second, brethren, heed the words written by Palmer Hartsough:

“I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living way.”

When we heed Palmer and Peter, following in Christ’s footsteps (1 Peter 2:21-24), we can know they will lead us to the Father (John 14:6).

Also, it is gloriously mind boggling how Christ is coordinating members of His body into efficient, faithful, fruitful service. I hope you are privileged to read the July, 2008 issue of Action, which overflows with the coordinated efforts of World Bible School, World Radio, and multiple brethren blending here at home and abroad. With multiple backgrounds, ages, and languages, the gospel as God’s power unto salvation is being spoken and shared, resulting in some 26,000 souls annually being baptized into Christ (Rom. 1:16; Gal. 3:26 ff). Christ, the Head, is busy every day blending brethren together so that Truth may be triumphant in souls scattered over many parts of our planet!

Recently, Sunset International School of Biblical Studies, while rejoicing that brethren over a three year period had given over $13 million for their extended areas of outreach, noted that just through Sunset’s far-flung work force 20,700 souls had been converted, 1,193 preachers had been trained, 26 long-term missionaries had been trained for 8 mission fields, 280 new congregations had been established, 148 AIM students had been sent to 22 mission fields, and 78 new ministry training programs were established—all in three years! Surely no one is so naïve’ as to think such local, national, and international fruit-bearing efforts could be done without the coordinated blessings and benefits of Christ, who is head over all things to His church (see John 15:5).

Brother or Sister, realize you can wake up each morning to walk and work with a mighty Master, a loving Lord, a sufficient Savior, and a coordinating Christ, knowing that your good efforts with Him will not be in vain (1 Cor. 15:58)! What a privilege! What a Head and Helper is He (Phil. 4:11-13)!
Dayton Keesee