We Are the Church
Today is Friday and our work is not yet done. As we look forward to a weekend of leisure with friends and family, God is still at work in our lives.
In my home hangs a huge photograph of two wild horses staring into each other’s eyes. I am always struck by the majesty, freedom, and purpose of these beautiful creatures. It provokes in me a wild abandonment that we also have in our lives. We are made for a purpose. WE ARE THE CHURCH!
I often think of Christ Church and the many people who walk through our doors each Sunday. So many stories, experiences, and even wounds. We are all so fragile. We need each other.
The book of Acts specifically speaks about the role of the church (Acts 2:1-4) as the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples. What a beautiful sight that must have been. As a church, we are to be purposeful with one another by “caring for the needy” (James 1:27), “loving one another” (John 13: 34,35), and last but not least, “bearing one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2)
Dear ones, in the book of Acts, the church was so unified that no one was “without.” (Acts 2:44-45) I would argue that everyone in the church not only had their material needs met but most were without loneliness or physical isolation. If each person was of one accord, the joy of the church was infectious and it spread outside of their walls. This is the gospel we ALL must strive for.
My challenge for us as a church is to ask the Lord to use the gifts he has given us to care for one another deeply. It is so much more difficult in this culture to connect with someone. We have the challenge of location and distance, transportation, and long hours at work. Some of our dear Brothers and Sisters are living in nursing homes or in places we cannot easily get to. But we must encourage the body of Christ and exert effort to encourage one another in the word.
At times being the Church means we must get out of our comfort zone when we interact with others. Do you ever see an individual or family you have never met at Christ Church? Do you want to meet them but have anxiety of taking that first step? Ask the Lord to give you strength and purpose by welcoming others. What a joy it can be to meet someone new. Perhaps invite them to your home for a Sunday meal. Maybe ask what you can pray for them about during the week. Is there anything heavy weighing on their hearts? Most likely there is.
Perhaps you are a bit shy and enjoy being in the background. Our church is starting to become quite large. Anxiety can really set in.
Friends, everyone is so unique with many different gifts. Ask the Lord to use you in building up the church in your own special way. Consider the fact that God may use what He has been teaching you in your life experiences. Perhaps there have been challenges you have faced that may benefit others. We all have a story to tell of Christ’s faithfulness in the journey called life.
Being the Church to others is paramount to spreading the gospel at large. May we all prayerfully ask Jesus to use us to build up the body.
To end, here is a dear verse we can strive for. “And let us consider how to stir up one another in love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24,25