Read it: Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Acts 20:28, Revelation 1:4
Live it
“I love my church.” A familiar phrase you see on all sorts of church swag within the Christian community. It’s a way we let the world know we have found a home church where we belong and gather regularly in community with other believers.
While church swag is relatively new, the idea of God creating a community of believers, a chosen people set apart to worship Him, is found first in Genesis and runs all the way through Revelation.
By meeting together in the local church, we immerse ourselves in a community of support, encouragement, and ministry. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew the New Testament believers, as well as the church today, would need directives on behaviors, role,s and responsibilities to fulfill its purpose.
Today’s scriptures remind us that it is the Holy Spirit who appoints those to roles of church leadership with the responsibility to lead, guide, and protect the church. Pray regularly for your church leadership as it is a weighty responsibility they carry.
As members of the local church, we are responsible to separate ourselves from worldly behaviors because we belong to God. And our relationships within the body should be characterized by unity, love, and affection expressed in a sincere and genuine way. Our actions should convey the fact that we accept God’s grace for ourselves first and that we extend His grace to those around us.The result is that we then can and do experience peace individually and collectively as the church body.
Are you able to say, “I love my church”? If not, what is holding you back today?
Kathie