Church. What is your first reaction to the word? Obligation,
boring, filled with hypocrites, organized religion? Those are some common
reactions I have heard over the years. Jesus did not design His church to be
divided into denominations and divisions. He chastised the leaders of the
church of His day. He wants a relationship with you and me. He wants us to know
Him and spend time with Him, the living Lord.
Jesus asked for all
of us to be united under His headship, each doing our part. The body of Christ
should function in fluidity, just as a healthy body is a sum of its moving and
working parts. That is the ideal. In His last beautiful prayers in John 17
Jesus prays these words for us:
That all
of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they
also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. John 17:21
Knowing Jesus unites
us as family. Yes, we are dysfunctional, with varied personalities and gifts,
but the Holy Spirit lives in us! Dive into His word today and take a peek
around. Read through John’s Gospel and take in His great love for you. Falling
in love with Jesus and being filled with the knowledge of Him, leads us to love
others in the most astounding ways. Take a stand for Him along with the rest of
the body so others may believe.
It is our greatest
calling. To make disciples and to be ready to give an answer for our hope. And
when we know Him and love Him, we want to be in fellowship with our brothers
and sisters of faith. It works as we become the body of Christ. Don’t be led
astray by fallen humans. We are not perfect. But He is. Let His perfect love
shine on you this morning.
Dear Jesus,
You call us into the deepest relationship. You allow the Holy
Spirit, the resurrection power of Christ, to dwell within us. Make us into Your
disciples so others may know You, too.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment