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. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ESV)
One of the most successful sitcoms on TV was "Cheers." It featured people coming together, night after night, sitting around the bar, drinking and sharing life's experiences. Why that program's success? Besides reflecting something that takes place every day, and that has taken place for centuries in cultures around the world, this reflects the pursuit of people for the drink that will truly satisfy, and the fellowship we all desire. It is a substitute for the real thing. That's why Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 to not be drunk with wine, but instead filled with the Spirit. These are community exhortations - we are to drink together. The Spirit makes us one - not at the corner bar, but with all believers everywhere, of all backgrounds and all times. He is the one who truly satisfies and fills our lives, and He is the one Who binds us together in true community. Accept no imitations or substitutes.
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