Why do we have bodies and what are they for? 🤔

Our bodies are for our neighbors. 💝

When we think about loving our neighbors, it's easy to want to dodge the hard parts. 🏃‍♂️

We might prefer to care about issues happening far away rather than dealing with the messy relationships right in front of us (because it doesn’t take as much work). 🌍

But love has a specific shape – it looks like sacrifice, like Jesus on the cross. ✝️

Our first neighbors are the people God has specifically placed in our lives through vocations: our family, our classmates 🏫, the people you interact with daily.

These are often the most challenging relationships because we see their sins up close (and they see ours 🫣).

It's much easier to love people from a distance or through social media, where there's no real sacrifice required. 📱

But here's the thing: when we spend all our energy on distant causes while neglecting those close relationships, the people who should be receiving our time and attention end up paying the price. ⚖️

Our families miss out when we're busy being angry on the internet. 😠

The good news is that Jesus shows us what real love looks like. ❤️

He had compassion on everyone — both Jews and Gentiles — and backed it up with action. 🤝

Every miracle He performed was a down payment on undoing sin, pointing toward His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. 🙏

When we're wondering who our neighbor is, ask: "Is this someone for whom Christ died?" (Hint: The answer is always yes.) ✨

This means loving people who are different from us, and sometimes even harder, loving people who are just like us. 🌈

Your role isn't to pay the price for their forgiveness — Jesus already did that. 💫

Instead, you get to point them to hope and forgiveness, over and over again, because love isn't a one-time transaction. It's a gift. 🎁

Contributor Deaconess Emma Heinz serves as the Registrar of Higher Things.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #whybodiesmatter

❓What was Jesus doing the first 29 years of his life?

⏳ Jesus's time before he started his ministry was not wasted.

✨ If he fulfilled the whole of the law, even 15-year-old table-making Jesus matters.

🌟 While we often focus on His miracles and teaching, Jesus actually spent more years not doing ministry than doing it.

🪚 Think about it — Jesus was a carpenter's son. He learned the trade from Joseph, making tables and furniture for specific people in His community.

👥 He lived an ordinary life, fulfilled regular responsibilities, and worked with His hands. He was someone's carpenter before He was known as their Messiah.

🌱 You might feel like your life will "finally start" when you reach some future milestone — getting married, landing that dream job, or making a big difference in the world.

💫 But consider this: if Jesus' time as a teenager and young adult wasn't wasted, neither is yours.

👨‍👦 Jesus lived the vocations given to Him — worker, son, friend, citizen.

📚 He grew in wisdom, which means He had to learn and improve at His craft. He probably even made some wobbly tables while learning carpentry!

✨ This means those "boring" Tuesdays when you're just trying to get through your chores? They're redeemed.

🌟 The seasons when you feel overlooked or ordinary? They matter.

❤️ Loving and serving the specific people God has placed in your life today is meaningful work.

🌍 (And by the way, it's not your job to change or save the world . . . Jesus already did that!)

🎓 Whether you're a student struggling through trigonometry, a parent changing diapers in the middle of the night, or a worker making spreadsheets, your current role has value.

💝 Your worth isn't measured by how many people know your name or how big your impact seems — it's found in faithfully living out your current vocations, serving your specific neighbors in love.

✝️ Christ's death redeems our imperfect efforts in any calling and at any age.

Contributor Deaconess Emma Heinz serves as the Registrar of Higher Things.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #jesus

Why should we take care of our bodies? 💪

Our bodies are a gift from God 🎁, and while they're not perfect (thanks to sin) 😔, they’re still worth taking care of.

But here's the interesting part: we’re not caring for our bodies to prove our worth to God or anyone else. Instead, we’re maintaining them so we can better serve others. 🤝

Think about it: when we’re exhausted 😴, hungry 🍽️, or unwell 🤒, it’s much harder to be there for our neighbors.

Just as Jesus grew "in wisdom and stature," we too are called to maintain our physical selves — not for vanity's sake 💅, but for service. 🙌

We might struggle with this concept from two different angles:

💃Body image issues — trying to meet impossible standards.

🫠Neglecting our bodies entirely — thinking only spiritual matters count.

Both extremes miss the point: our bodies, minds, and souls are all connected. 🧠💖💪 When one suffers, they all do.

Consider something as simple as sleep. 😴 God created day and night for a reason. When you get enough rest, you’re better equipped to love and serve others.

The same goes for eating well 🥗 and staying active 🏃‍♂️.

It’s not about looking like Captain America 🦸‍♂️ or following the latest fitness trend — it’s about being healthy enough to fulfill our vocations.

This balance can be tricky. ⚖️

Society pushes us to prove our worth through constant busyness 🏃‍♀️ or perfect appearances 📸.

But remember: your worth isn’t in what you can do or how you look. It’s in what Christ has done for you. ✝️

Your body, broken as it may be 😔, is redeemed by Him 🙏 and will be restored in the resurrection. 🌅

So care for yourself — not too little, not too much.

✔️ Get enough sleep 😴

✔️ Eat well 🍎

✔️ Stay active 🚶‍♂️

When we take care of ourselves, we’re better able to love our neighbor ❤️ as Christ loves us. ✝️

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

Contributor Deaconess Emma Heinz serves as the Registrar of Higher Things.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #jesus