Connected to the Source

Have you ever heard of the association game called Seven Degrees of Separation? The way we played when I was younger was that we would try to figure out how closely we were connected to the actor Kevin Bacon (think of the movie Footloose – go 1980’s!). Usually you could associate yourself with the actor within seven degrees (steps) or less. Here is an example of how this might look:

1)    My brother went to at college in North Carolina

2)    He had a good friend that moved to New York to become an actor

3)    While in New York, my brother’s friend got a job as a waiter

4)    One day, he waited on Kevin Bacon’s father

Within 4 simple steps I have now become “connected” to Kevin Bacon. Almost everyone could find a loose connection to Kevin Bacon by playing this game.

With God, the believer in Christ maintains a connection that is far stronger and much more real than any connection he could claim to an actor he has never met. “The one who welcomes you welcomes Me, and the one who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me.” When people see us and interact with us, they should make a connection to Jesus and God Himself. It follows that, as representatives of Christ Jesus, when someone receives us or welcomes us or provides an act of kindness to us, they do so in the name of Christ. In other words, because we represent Christ, what you do for me or what I do for a fellow believer is also done for Christ.

This is not to say that we equal with Jesus, but that is not what is being asserted here. As His ambassadors we are so connected to Him that there is to be no level of separation that is to exist between Him and us. If you mistreat my child then you have greatly offended me and have in a real sense mistreated me. The family connection with my children is strong and what you do to or for them greatly effects me.

When we read the words “whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones”, we often think of ways that we can minister to those who are disadvantaged or are our enemies, but that is not necessarily what these words imply. The rest of Jesus’ words read, “because he is a disciple.” Jesus had His followers in mind when He spoke these words. You see, because we are connected to Jesus, the source of life and hope and salvation, what we do for each other will be the same as if we have done it for Jesus Himself.

Our connection to Jesus connects us to God as well as to each other. We are family. When one suffers we all suffer. The body of Christ is not to be fragmented clusters of believers scattered across the globe but rather a unified body of believers at whose core you will find the essence of the gospel. A cup of cold water is the least that we can do for each other.