Ever since a young boy I have been fascinated with anything to do with nature. I remember taking walks in the woods to discover all sorts of neat things. I would catch grass hoppers to throw in giant spider webs, watch sand lions attack ants and go on snake hunts with my friends. Nature has always intrigued me. Our television growing up was powered by bunny ear antennas giving us access to a total of 6 channels. So it was always exciting when an animal or nature program came on PBS. The programs would transport me to a world that I would most likely never see.
I remember seeing shows based on the leaf cutter ant. They are some of the most fascinating communal creatures. They work in such unity and force that they cut and clear a visible path for hundreds of yards from their hill in search for the right plants. They cut and carry plant pieces up to 10 times their weight back to their nest. They stack the plant piece in their nest to decompose. During the decomposing process an edible fungus grows on the plant pieces in which the colony eats, thus fueling the colony to grow and become stronger. When the ant egg hatches it will be either queen, male, worker or soldier ant, they will preform the role in which they were designed for. Each role is very specific for the survival of the colony.
The other day I had the opportunity to work at the ranch. While walking the premises I discovered a huge leaf cutter colony. At first I was just fascinated by how far these ants were traveling. I followed the beaten path back to their mound. It was a huge colony. I began thinking about God creative design of the leaf cutter ants. The ants acting according to their design brings glory to God. If all the ants decided they wanted to become the worker ants the colony would quickly stop reproducing and die off. God designed them to function a specific way for their benefit and His glory.Scripture is very clear that God is redeeming a people group for himself. When individuals in the church use their specific gifts for the church, the many people become one body and God is glorified because His Church is functioning according to His design. When working together followers of Christ become unstoppable. The Church grows and God is glorified. When working together the path that is blazed is visible and leads to Christ and His kingdom.
1 Corinthians 12:12-20
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
Alli and I would not be here with out the communal effort of the body of Christ. We are a part of God's community of people seeking to grow His kingdom around the world. Thank you everyone who has prayed for us and partnered with us financially over the last year. We hope you all have a blessed and productive New Year.
Do to various circumstances some of our previous financial partners can no longer partner with us. We are in need of some new financial partners. Would you please prayerfully consider partnering with us financially. 6:8 Ministries is a non- profit organization and will be a tax write off. Follow the link below to do a one time donation or subscribe for monthly gift through Paypal http://www.68ministries.org/the-6-8-staff/mcarthur-family/ . Thank you for your prayers.
We are blessed to be a blessing.
