You are a member of the body of Christ. You are not an isolated person; you are a vital part of a living organism. The Bible says, "...we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones" (Ephesians 5:30). Think about your body as a human being: the eyes, nose, ears, hair, hands and internal organs like the kidney, lungs, and liver. So many parts make up this human being. If just one tooth had a serious problem, it could keep you at home. Even the smallest fingernail or toe nail, if hurting badly, may prevent you from walking properly. Any little part of your body that is giving serious trouble can put the whole body in trouble. That is why the scripture says, "...whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it..." (1 Corinthians 12:26).

In a healthy life, your hands and legs are balanced. However, have you seen some where the head is more mature than the hand—someone carrying the head of a forty-year-old man while his hand is like that of a two-year-old child? When you see people like that, there is a problem. Maybe the veins or arteries that carry nutrients to that side are damaged. For people who are paralyzed, the hand shrinks and becomes emaciated, not growing along with the rest of the body.

This is what Christians who are not always among other Christians are like. You cannot have the nutrients God gives us every day when you do not come to church regularly. The Bible tells us, "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is..." (Hebrews 10:25), because fellowship is where believers receive strength and encouragement.

When you do not come to church regularly, you will suffer from spiritual, mental and financial kwashiorkor. You cannot grow normally-even your business as a Christian. We get our nourishment for every area of our life from the church. The scripture explains that the whole body grows: "from whom the whole body fitly joined together… maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16).

Only Christians who go to church regularly have the freshness of the Christian life. There is a peace they enjoy in every area of life because life is spiritual. The Bible says, "…from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God" (Colossians 2:19 NKJV). Being part of the body means we grow, are nourished, and are strengthened together under Christ the head.

Understand this: you are a member of the body of Christ. When you remain connected through fellowship, you receive the nourishment, strength, and growth God has designed. Stay planted where God has placed you, and your life will grow in every area as you continue to receive from the body of Christ.