The Apollo 13 spacecraft launched into orbit in 1970. Many of us know the general parameters of the story because we’ve seen the moving starring Tom Hanks.

In short, things go sideways. Stuff starts breaking and the lives of the astronauts are in danger. At home, everyone watches their TV screens in suspense and send up prayers.

One of the things that happens is that everyone works together to try to bring the astronauts home. The men in the spacecraft need to get creative. And the people at the command centre on the ground had to think outside the box as well. The astronauts were running out of oxygen, so ground crews needed to work tirelessly to design makeshift oxygen filters. But they had to design them based on their knowledge of what the astronauts already had in the spacecraft. 

Thankfully, they made it home!

One of the lessons this teaches us is that everyone has to do their part. They need to work together. They need to be creative. They need to persevere… 

As families, as churches, and as communities.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Paul’s readers are encouraged to “encourage one another and build one another up…” The spiritual gifts God gives to us are for the “common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). In Romans 12:5 we are told that we are “individually members one of another,” and in 1 Corinthians 12:27 that together we are a part of a body—Christ’s body! 

Those astronauts would not have survived or thrived by themselves—the same is true for us.

The great temptation is to turn inward, to isolate, to ignore. We all need ‘alone time’ once in a while—but not forever. 

Play your part. 

Pray, worship, serve, rest. 
Read, share, help, laugh. 
Sing, lead, encourage, bless.

Are we individuals? Yes. But we are also a part of a body. Let’s play our part for the glory of God and for the common good of others.

Notes:

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.