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A brother gets up and prays, gives thanks, or in some other

way contributes in a meeting, and I am edified by it—he is a

joint of supply. Something comes to me from Christ through

my brother, or maybe in private through my sister. What a

privilege to be a joint of supply! Thus what is in Christ in all its

fulness flows into His body, uniting it, edifying it, increasing it

through each one in his or her measure and part. I find it very

exercising, but very encouraging. How precious the assembly

is to Christ. He loved it and gave Himself for it and His whole

service now is for its enrichment, blessing and prosperity, and

one of the greatest services you and I can render is to be

joints of supply.

Again, I would ask myself, Is there any benefit in my local

meeting from my being there, or am I a cause of trouble or

disturbance? Pardon my being negative, but such things are

possible—easily possible. How much better if, by the grace of

the Lord Jesus, we can be joints of supply, bringing love,

warmth, mutual affection and respect and care—and I certainly

do not exclude what is practical. Much that our dear sisters do

in practical ministration—is it not a joint of supply, an

expression of the love and grace of Christ? In every possible

way may we be concerned, as having our privileged part in the

body, to be joints of supply, holding fast the Head, and thus

having that which can be contributive to the wealth of the

assembly.

In Psalm 133 we have an example of this. It is very blessed

and yet quite testing. It begins with “Behold”; that is,

somewhere the matter is working out and David says, ‘Have a

look at this’. Now could I bring someone to the local meeting

where I am, open the door, and say as it were, ‘Look; behold,

how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together

in unity’? That is normal; that is how it should be. I was much

affected by a little prayer meeting recently, just a handful, but

together in love and unity. And that, dear brethren, is to be true

in every locality, there to be seen, there to be experienced,

and it comes from the Head. It is like the precious oil upon the