Volume 46   Number 12                                                         August 2004

Who wants to be part of my team?", asks the young boy gathering recruits for a fun game of dodge ball. As a kid on a warm spring day, I vividly remember these words. Teams come in all shapes and sizes. If you are married, you and your spouse are a team. If you are employed, you and your colleagues are a team. If you volunteer your time, you and your fellow workers are a team.

A good example of teamwork can be seen when geese migrate. You might be interested in knowing why they fly in a V formation. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. This is quite similar to people who are in the Lord's body. Romans 12:4-5 says, "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." The Lord's body is the church with each member functioning as a vital body part. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually." By being a part of the Lord's body, the Lord's team, we share a common interest in living by the Lord's commands. If we do what he wants us to do and be an active part of the body, we will grow closer to him and enjoy our time here because we will be with his team. Those who are part of the Lord's body get through this life with less friction and a smoother ride because just like geese, we will be traveling on the trust of one another and lift each other up along the way. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go through it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the power of the flock. If we want to serve Christ, we will stay in his formation and share with those who are headed in the same way we want to go. It's good to be part of the Lord's team, his church.

If you are not a part of his body, then there is no better time than today to dedicate your life to Christ. Christ will be your leader if you let him. Just like a flock of geese, there is one goose that's out front, leading the rest. That one in front has already removed the roughest air. He's taken on the resistance so we don't have to. The one and only one that leads the church is Jesus Christ. To be in Christ's body, part of his team, you must hear his gospel. The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. You must believe the leader. John 8:24 says, "If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." You must fly from what is wrong by repenting. Luke 13:3 says, "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Next, confess that Jesus is the son of God, Romans 10:9, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved." The migration doesn't stop there. Being baptized is an essential part, Romans 6:4, "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Once you come out of that watery grave of baptism, you rise to a new life. Old sins are washed away, and a new life begins. Christ adds you to his church and places you on his team. This team will stand the test of time because our V formation also stands for VICTORY!