Church: Body

As I sat with our church’s youth group Wednesday evening, I was incredibly grateful to hear them (both the leaders and the students) talk about how the church is a family that builds one another up, not a building in which we gather. The church is a people, not a property. The church is a body of believers, not a building of bricks. Praise the Lord!

This truth is so important because we all need community. God created us to flourish in community, surrounded by family that will sharpen and strengthen us to be who God created us to be and to do what God created us to do. Thus, we regularly say, “Our church is our family.” We need one another, depend on one another, and grow best when we are faithfully serving one another.

On Sunday morning, Lord willing, I will be preaching through Hebrews 10:19-25 on how “The Church Is a Gift and a Necessity.” The message should be available HERE by Sunday evening. In the message, though, I hope to challenge my hearers to make sure their gospel response includes a corporate mindset. Indeed, the church is a gift and a necessity, and so our proper response to God and His Word includes a desire and commitment to be faithful to His church.

The church is the body of Christ – believers who covenant together to walk with Him and help others walk with Him. Jesus is the Head of the body, and we all serve and work together under His authority, seeking to honor and worship Him. If a church does not have a building, that church does not cease to be a body, just like a family without a home does not cease to be a family.

The health of a family is not based on the house in which they dwell, but rather on the bond of love in which they live. Likewise, the health of a church is not based on the building in which they gather (or the tree under which they gather) but rather on the Lord for whom they gather. As a church, if we truly seek to honor and serve Jesus, then we will love one another, serve one another, and seek to help others experience the incredible love of the gospel.

“Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He ([Jesus]) who promised is faithful. And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

I could spend hours talking and typing about this amazing passage of Scripture, as there are so many truths to ponder and applications for our lives. Please consider your relationship with your local church, though. Do you love Jesus? If so, you love His church and will set your priorities accordingly. If you do not love and prioritize your involvement in a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-following church, please examine your heart to see if you have truly surrendered your life to Jesus. He alone will give you that growing love and commitment, and you will never regret serving Him and His church. To God be the glory!

Before you can truly be committed to a local body of believers, you must be in a right relationship with the Head of the body. Learn more by checking out The Story.

In the Same Pool

Our family has been blessed by my mom’s generosity to get a pool a couple years ago and let us swim in it whenever we want. Since we only live 10 minutes from my mom’s house, our kids regularly request trips to Grandma Jo’s this time of year. The past few weeks have been – for me – that awkward time of year when swimming is appealing, but the water temperature is not quite up to my preferable temperature. The kids do not seem to mind, but I sure do. In fact, the kids were swimming a few weeks ago when the air temperature and pool temperature were both 66 degrees. That is not my idea of fun!

When the water is a little chilly, some of my kids just jump in, while some of them prefer the slower method of adaptation. Eventually, though, everyone is swimming and having a great time. Did the enjoyment for some of them start sooner? Sure. All of them ended up in the same place, though, as long as they all got in the same pool.

Is this not how it is for us in the Christian life, too? We might have our different struggles and hesitations, but as long as we are heading in the same direction to the same place (and get there), then we are part of the same family – the family of Jesus Christ.

For this reason, I really like confessions of faith like the Apostles’ Creed. To be a follower of Jesus, there are certain things you must believe. There are certain responses necessary to the truth of God’s Word (faith in Jesus Christ and repentance from your sins). Sure, you might get there slower than some and faster than others, but what matters is that you get there. When you do, you are no less part of the body of Christ than anyone else, regardless of the journey.

The kid who slowly got used to the water is no less in the water and used to the water than the kid who jumped in quicker and got used to it quicker.

Praise God for His grace! Apart from His Spirit working in our hearts and revealing the Truth to us, we would never “get in the pool.” When we do get in, though, by surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, then we are in. We are in for good. He will never let us go.

On Sunday morning, Lord willing, I will be preaching from 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 on the important doctrine that “God Is Triune,” taking some time, too, to consider the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Hopefully, the message will be available HERE by Sunday evening.

Are you in the pool of Christian faith? If not, I want to invite you to jump in and experience the amazing mercy and grace of God through Jesus Christ and the fellowship of His Holy Spirit. Even if you are not ready to jump in, I would love to help you as you take your time to consider your response to the Word of God. Maybe you have some questions. Maybe you are struggling and need prayer. Either way, please let us know.

Just as my kids do not regret getting in the pool once they experience the family fun, no one regrets getting in the pool of the Christian life because they experience a relationship with Jesus and fellowship with His church. Praise the Lord!

If you want to learn more about what it means to know and follow Jesus, check out The Story.

Personal Application from Creation

The first part of the Apostles’ Creed says, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” Similarly, the first verse of the Bible says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

What is the personal application of this truth for your life, though? Why is what you believe about creation so important? Well, what you believe about creation says a lot about what you believe about the Creator – God, the Father Almighty. If you believe in the God of the Bible, then you believe in God the Creator. This, of course, is incredibly applicable and personal for you because of a few obvious reasons.

1. YOU WERE CREATED.

You did not simply come to be by chance. You were created. Yes, a father and mother were instrumental in that happening, but from where did they (and all those before them) come? The Bible is very clear (in Genesis 1 and 2 and beyond) that you and I come from Adam and Eve, the first people created by God and the pinnacle of God’s creation.

Furthermore, God continues to be the One in control of creation. David knew this well when, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, he wrote in Psalm 139, “For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well” (verses 13-14). We can and should all pray such a prayer to the Lord Almighty, our Creator.

Because you are a created being by our Creator, creation and the Creator are personally applicable to you, no matter what you think or believe.

On Sunday morning, Lord willing, I will be preaching through John 1:1-18 and Genesis 1:1 on the incredible truth that “God Made Everything from Nothing.” The sermon will hopefully be available online HERE by Sunday evening. This amazing Creator made you, though, and that is personal. In fact, He desires a personal relationship with you.

2. YOU ARE LOVED.

I love how John 1 and Genesis 1 are so similar, and how John 1 really takes the creation account to the next level by applying it to our lives now and what we must do in response. You see, God loves you. He made you for His glory, and because of His love for you, He made a way for you to know Him personally. Do you? If you do not (or are unsure), please call on His name now.

The amazing application of creation for your life and the love God has for you is seen in and through His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. God sent Him to this world because of His love for you. There is no greater example of love than Jesus. Unfortunately (and then fortunately), though, “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12).

Praise God! He loves you so much that you can be counted as one of His children if you simply trust in His Son. You can have eternal life if you believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your salvation.

You were created, and you are loved. God proved it through Jesus.

3. YOU HAVE PURPOSE.

Because of God’s incredible love for you in Christ Jesus, you have purpose. Above all else, your purpose is to know your Creator and help others to know the Creator. He is, after all, the One who knows you best and knows best what you need. Apart from knowing and walking with Him, you will never be fulfilled. The better you know and walk with Him, though, the more joy and fulfillment you will have.

God created you and loves you, and you have purpose.

I want to challenge and encourage you, then, to seek Him with all your heart by studying His Word – the Bible – each day, crying out to Him in prayer, and asking for His help to live according to His Word. By His grace and the power of His Spirit, He will enable you to do so, and no one who does ever lives to regret it. To God be the glory!

To understand the amazing love God has for you and how you must respond, check out The Story.

The Message Never Fails

If you pray for a miracle, but said miracle does not happen, has God failed you? Have you prayed for a miracle and then doubted God’s power and provision when such a miracle did not occur?

In Acts 3, there is an incredible story of the miraculous healing of a man who had been crippled since birth. In fact, the man was resigned to his crippled state and was only asking for money, not for healing. Yet, God showed great mercy and grace to this man and healed him, giving him a gift far greater than what he expected.

Is that not how God so often works? We think we want or need one thing, but God gives us something else. We think we know just what we need, but God opens our eyes to His bigger purpose.

Still, sometimes things do not go well. Sometimes, miracles do not happen (at least not yet). Sometimes, we find ourselves disappointed, desperate, and hurting. Life is full of tragedy and heartache, so what are we to do? How are we to respond?

If you are always looking for the next miracle in this life, you will eventually be let down. That is, let down unless you discover the ultimate miracle.

There is only one miracle that lasts forever, and that is the miracle of a changed heart made right with God. And, there is only one message that brings about such a change – the message of the gospel (the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation – the salvation of everyone who turns away from sin and turns to Him).

Yes, miracles like physical healing can and do happen, but they are not promised. What is promised is the eternal healing and restoration for everyone who trusts the message of the gospel and surrenders to Jesus as a result.

The message never fails.

On Sunday morning, Lord willing, I will be preaching through Acts 3 and sharing how we can make sure we are finding our hope in the lasting message and not the temporary miracles. “The Message of Our Purpose” will likely be available HERE sometime Sunday afternoon.

Yes, pray for miracles. Yes, rejoice when they happen. When the miracles do not happen, though, God is still in control. His plan is still perfect. His way is still right. His message is still certain. The message never fails. Praise the Lord!

To understand and experience the greatest of miracles, check out The Story.

Promise of Power

When I was a teenager, I was pretty disciplined in sticking to a weightlifting routine that my high school football and track coach helped me establish, particularly in the summer months. While I do not recall my coach ever telling me that I would look a certain way, gain a certain amount of weight, or run a certain speed if I stuck to the weight training, I had in my mind all of the above (and more). Surely I will get a lot bigger and be a lot faster, I thought. With weightlifting, I assumed there was some promise of power and strength that I could expect.

I never did get as strong as I had hoped, as big as I had hoped, or as fast as I had hoped, though. Still, the weight training definitely did help. My coach knew what he was talking about, as did my dad – who was my basketball coach and also emphasized strength and conditioning training throughout the year. While I never achieved the speed and strength I dreamed of, I did improve. For example, while I did not grow taller after my freshman year of high school, my weight increased from 120 pounds my freshman year to 135 pounds my sophomore year to 155 pounds my junior year, to 170 pounds my senior year.

After football practice one day my freshman year, one of my senior teammates jokingly asked me in the shower, “When the wind blows, do you just fall over?” I tried to laugh, but his mockery hurt because he was right. Sometimes strong gusts of wind probably did knock me over.

Strength training did pay off eventually, however. While far from where I had hoped to be, there was some improvement. All those push-ups, sit-ups, jumping rope, plyometrics, weightlifting, running, etc. were not in vain (at least not completely).

LIMITED PROMISE

Why did I not get as big, strong, and fast as some of my teammates, though? Simple answer – I was not made like them. Sure, there could certainly be a degree of training and consistency that would have helped more, perhaps, but we can only do so much to improve our conditions. Despite what some fools will try to tell you, you cannot “do anything you put your mind to.”

Yes, there are benefits to the disciplines of things like exercise, but the benefits are limited by our genetic makeup. I was never going to be as fast as our all-state backs or as strong as our all-state linebacker. Sure, I improved enough to be a starting cornerback for two years, but that might have been my football ceiling.

Promises are always limited, at least when it comes to our promises and abilities.

UNLIMITED PROMISE

While you and I cannot “do anything we put our minds to,” we can do far more when we know and follow the One who made us. He is not limited like we are.

As a 6-foot, 170-pound 18-year-old with average speed and strength, I was on no one’s radar as an NFL or NBA prospect. No one was recruiting me or “feeding my dreams” anymore. My promise was limited by my physical abilities (and lack thereof). That was difficult for me to accept at the time, but it was what it was.

Our Almighty God, though, is not limited like we are. He is the Creator of the universe and in control of all things. So, when He calls us to live the life He has created us to live, He can and will equip us to live such a life.

On Sunday morning, Lord willing, I will begin a new sermon series through the Book of Acts and preach through Acts 1:1-11 on “The Promise of Power for Our Purpose” (available Sunday evening HERE). I will be challenging those willing to listen that we must trust and depend on God’s promise of power to fulfill His purpose for our lives.

THE PROMISE OF POWER

No amount of “training” will get us to where God intends for us to go – not physically and not spiritually. We need Him. He is the Promise of Power we need. His Holy Spirit is the One who will guide us, enable us, and equip us to be the people He has called us to be.

Sure, do your best to follow His Word. Be disciplined by having daily time with Him in Bible study and prayer, by serving in His church, and by seeking to live out your faith. Realize all the while, though, that you can do absolutely nothing without Him (see Jesus’ words in John 15).

The Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised to all his followers is the Only One who will enable you to fulfill God’s purpose for your life. Are you trusting and depending on Him?

Sure, I worked hard in high school and reaped some benefits from the hard work and discipline, but God is the One who gave me arms and legs, who gave me health and stamina, who kept me safe, and who allowed me to do any of that, whether I realized and accepted this truth or not.

Likewise, God is the One who gives His Spirit, who calls His people, and who equips His people. Have you trusted in Him? Are you continuously trusting in Him?

Discover His purpose for your life by being in His Word and being involved in a faithful, Bible-believing church. Live out His purpose for your life by depending on Him – the Promise of Power. To God be the glory!

To receive and experience the unlimited power of God in and through His Holy Spirit, you must trust in the Only Son of God for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. If you have yet to make such a decision, would you consider checking out The Story and turning to Him today?

How do you respond to the sexual revolution?

While “the sexual revolution” is widely regarded to have already taken place (beginning in the 1960s), you could certainly make a strong case that it continues today. Really, though, I would argue that, while the “revolution” of such things by cultural standards and societal norms took place then and continue to take place today, the very ideas of “the sexual revolution” have been happening since the days of Noah, the time of Sodom and Gomorrah, etc.

Regardless of the terms and the times, the revolution of sexual activity has been ongoing for thousands of years and will continue until Jesus Christ returns.

Any practice of sex outside of God’s perfect design, however, is sinful. Sex is a beautiful gift from God but is, per His perfect plan for humanity, meant to be practiced, enjoyed, and celebrated only between a man and his wife. Anything less (or more) will not satisfy and more importantly, will result in God’s judgment.

How many marriages, families, communities, churches, friendships, etc. have been destroyed by sexual sin (pornography, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, masturbation, pedophilia, rape, incest, etc.)? On the other hand, how many marriages, families, communities, churches, friendships, etc. have been destroyed by sexual fidelity? No genius is necessary to accurately answer those two questions (sexual infidelity destroys lives; sexual fidelity promotes and advances life).

THE GRACIOUS WARNING

On Sunday morning, Lord willing, I will be preaching from 2 Peter 2 on the “Grace to Know” God according to the truth of His Word. Unfortunately, the world is full of deception that seeks to push us away from God. By His grace, though, He has preserved and given us His Word to protect us and to teach us how to discern Truth from evil.

In the Bible, we are warned of the very things “the sexual revolution” has promoted and celebrated. Thus, the distortions and abominations should not surprise us, even though we should be saddened and prayerful. God help us!

In His grace, God has warned us not only that the world would be consumed by sexual sin, greed, idolatry, etc., but also what will happen if we turn to those things rather than to Him. Eternal destruction and damnation are the results of giving in to any sin, including sexual sin.

Since we are all sinners, this is really bad news. Praise God, though, that He has provided a solution.

THE WAY OUT

If you are trapped in the snares of sexual sin (or any other sinful lifestyle), please do not lose hope. Please do not give up. Please do not believe the lie that it is too late for your life to matter and for hope to be restored.

The Good News of the gospel is that God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. He took the punishment that you and I deserve, and then He rose from the grave and defeated sin and death for all of eternity. If we simply turn away from sin and trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for our salvation, we receive forgiveness and a right relationship with God. And, that is more than just our eternal life; our life is different now.

Does that mean we will never struggle with sexual sin (or any other sin) again? Of course not. Rather, that means we will never be content to live in sexual sin (or any other sin) again. As the Holy Spirit of God changes our hearts and our lives, we will continue to grow in our desire to know and follow and obey God according to His Word. We will grow in our ability to discern Truth from evil. We will long to obey God’s Word and heed the advice of the Apostle Paul…

“Run from sexual immorality! “Every sin a person can commit is outside the body.” On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

What is your response to “the sexual revolution” and the destructive perversion of God’s plan for your life? Will you respond by fleeing from sin and turning to God? Seek Him through His Word. Depend on Him in prayer. Serve Him through His church. Declare Him to the world.

There is a way out from the trap of sin and death. Jesus is the Way. Turn to Him before it is too late. Plead with others to do the same.

The Story explains how we can be delivered from sin and death now and forever.

What is discipleship?

At the heart of Christianity is the answer to the question, “What is discipleship?” because a disciple is a student and follower of someone or something. Thus, a disciple of Jesus is what being a Christian is all about, and many of us use the term “discipleship” to explain this lifestyle.

What is discipleship, then? As a follower of Jesus and as a pastor, I talk about this often and try my best to clearly communicate the answer to that question to our church family. Simply put, discipleship is following Jesus and helping others to follow Jesus. Put another way, discipleship is growing closer to Jesus and helping others to grow closer to Jesus.

On Sunday morning, Lord willing, I will be starting a new sermon series through 2 Peter (“Grow in Grace“), and, like many of the New Testament letters, I believe Christian discipleship is at the heart of 2 Peter because God’s Word exists in order for us to know Him, know whom He created us to be, and know how to help others know Him. So, the Bible is our manual for discipleship, answering life’s most important questions and revealing to us the most important truths.

As I have been studying this week for the first message in this series, “Grace to Grow,” I have been reminded how much I need the Lord above all, but also how much I need my brothers and sisters in Christ. Again, discipleship involves both following Jesus and helping others to follow Jesus. That means we need Him, and we need each other. We need God’s Word, and we need God’s church.

For these reasons, and because life tends to get busy and filled with fruitless distractions, I have discovered the importance of being very intentional when it comes to discipleship. Yes, the major part of following Jesus and helping others to follow Jesus should be what we do in our everyday lives. In other words, discipleship is not a program but a lifestyle. Still, I need some intentional focus, or my everyday lifestyle looks less and less like how the Bible calls me to live.

When God saves us, He gives us everything we need not only for eternal life but also for spiritual growth now (see 2 Peter 1:1-4). He gives us His Spirit to enable and equip us, and we have His Word to know Him and know how to live. We still have a responsibility, though, when it comes to our life of discipleship.

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with…” (2 Peter 1:5 – check out verses 5-9 for the list).

Am I “making every effort”? Are you?

In my 22+ years of being a Christian, one of the most helpful tools for my spiritual growth has been discipleship accountability groups (DAGs). Really, DAGs, along with the other three things I shared a few weeks ago (Bible, prayer, and church), have been used by the grace of God to bless me, challenge me, sharpen me, encourage me, and grow me.

In a perfect world, a DAG would not be necessary, as we would be diligent about prioritizing our faith, holding one another accountable, and helping one another grow closer to the Lord. We do not live in a perfect world, though, and we are far from perfect. For that reason, I mentioned the importance of being intentional.

If not for DAGs, would anyone ever ask me if I am walking in sexual purity and avoiding things like pornography? How often would people ask me when the last time is I shared the gospel with an unbeliever? Who would challenge me to memorize Scripture and spend daily time in the Word? Again, if we were all as spiritually mature as we should be, these questions and others like them would be part of our regular Christian relationships. My experience, though, has been that without DAGs or something like them, these questions rarely get asked.

Are you in a weekly DAG with a few other believers (men with men, women with women – since we deal with different issues)? If not, would you consider being in one? I am actually preparing to start a new DAG next month, and if you are interested in learning more about DAGs, resources we have, how to get started, etc., please let me know.

Let us seek with all that we are to grow closer to Jesus and help others grow closer to Jesus. Let us be disciples who make disciple makers.

Of course, to be a disciple, you must first surrender your life to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. If you have yet to make this most important decision of your life, please consider checking out The Story for more information.

Obeying When You Don’t Feel Like It

As a dad, one thing I have never said to my kids is, “If your heart is in it and it feels right, do what I tell you to do.” Rather, I expect them to obey me, whether they feel like it or not. If you are a parent, I am sure you are the same way, right?

When I recently asked my kids to help me load my truck with chunks of concrete and asphalt (from the piles of dirt in the picture above), I did not expect they would jump for joy and celebrate the chance for manual labor on a muggy day. Still, I needed some help, and it was good for them to help me.

Granted, we can make mistakes as parents because we are sinners and far from perfect. Still, we give our children instructions and expect their obedience because we are trying to teach them right from wrong, educate them on the value of things like hard work and discipline, want what is best for them, and know (usually) better than they do what they need.

To an infinitely greater degree, of course, our Creator knows what we need. He knows what is best for us and has given us His Word to guide us. For His glory and for our good, He expects our obedience, and that expectation is not contingent upon our feelings. Because we are sinners who do not always have a great attitude, there will be plenty of times when we do not feel like obeying God. Will we obey anyway? Will I? Will you?

On Sunday morning, Lord willing, I will be preaching from Ezra 7 on “Reclaimed Obedience” because God’s Word is essential for all of us. We must look to the Lord and depend on the Lord for growth in our obedience to the Lord.

No, we will never, on this side of eternity, be perfect in our obedience. Jesus alone was and is that, and He died on the cross for our disobedience and brokenness. He took the punishment that we all deserve for our sinful disobedience. Then, Jesus rose from the dead and conquered sin and death for all of eternity. By turning to Him for forgiveness and salvation, we can and will live with Him forever.

One of the clearest and most important evidences of that salvation is growing obedience to the Word of God, both when we feel like it and when we do not. As the Holy Spirit of God transforms us and shapes us, too, we will grow in our desire to obey. By the grace of God, though, we will learn to obey even when the desire is lacking.

Will you seek and trust the Lord to help you be like Ezra, who “determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10)? No matter how you feel, as God to help you obey Him in all things.

Are you growing in your obedience to God’s Word? Do you desire to grow and obey? If not, would you examine your heart and consider your relationship with the Lord? You can learn what it means to know and follow Him by checking out The Story.

COVID-19. What if…?

Like so many others, I am praying for God’s grace and mercy in the midst of this Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While the current projections are anything but favorable, I am asking God to do the impossible and bring an end to COVID-19.

What if, in the meantime, though, we ask God to do an amazing work in our hearts? What if we ask Him to do an amazing work in His church? What if we ask Him to use COVID-19 for His glory and for our good? What if we can one day look back on this pandemic and say, “Wow! God changed so many lives for His kingdom during that difficult time.“?

In the same way September 11, 2001, seemed to drastically increase patriotism in our great nation, what if COVID-19 drastically increases faith in our great God?

Would you join me in praying for three specific results in the coming weeks?

1. PRAY FOR A GROWING HUNGER FOR GOD’S WORD.

If we follow our government’s directives – and I believe we should to the best of our abilities – then we are going to have a lot more time at home until COVID-19 is “under control.” A lot more time isolated from those outside of our household. A lot more time alone, perhaps.

Hey, what a great time to binge-watch television shows and movies! What a plethora of time to waste on social media and the internet!

What if, instead, we prayed for a growing hunger for God’s Word? What if we used the increased time at home to spend more time reading our Bibles, praying from our Bibles, and memorizing Scripture? What if we developed a consistent habit of daily interaction with God through His Word? What if we established a regular routine of family devotions?

“How happy are those whose way is blameless, who live according to the Lord’s instruction! Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart” (Psalm 119:1-2).

If we pray for a growing hunger for God’s Word and sincerely prioritize our Bibles right now, our lives could be changed forever. Our families could be changed forever. Our churches could be changed forever. Our communities could be changed forever. Our world could be changed forever. What could and would God do in and through us if we truly grew in our hunger for His Word? Let’s find out!

2. PRAY FOR A GROWING COMMITMENT TO GOD’S CHURCH.

Most churches – including the church I have the privilege of serving – are wisely choosing to live out the great commandments (love of God and love of neighbor) by honoring our government’s leadership in the midst of this pandemic. Thus, we are canceling services, for now, to help limit the further spread of COVID-19.

People who are marginally committed to their churches might use this “break” as an opportunity to sleep in on Sundays. They might fall out of the habit of regular worship service attendance and church involvement. They might see this as an excuse to “drop out.” I pray that is not the case, but the possibility is real.

For those who sincerely love Jesus, though, a growing love for His church is evident. Thus, what if God were to use this time of separation from your church family to grow your commitment to your church family? What if, out of this pandemic, you realize what a privilege church involvement truly is, and your longing to be back with your church family is overflowing?

“God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. This is according to His eternal purpose accomplished in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:10-11).

If we pray for a growing hunger for God’s Word, and God answers our prayers, then I believe a growing commitment to God’s church will naturally follow. Let’s find out!

3. PRAY FOR A GROWING PASSION FOR GOD’S MISSION.

Likewise, as God grows our hunger for His Word and our commitment to His church, I believe He will increase our passion for His mission. Perhaps we cannot do quite as much as before or quite as much as we would like because of social distancing right now. Then again, perhaps we can do more, or at least different acts of mission and service.

Is this an increased opportunity to serve the elderly who have needs but are unable to leave their homes? Is this an increased opportunity to serve lost family and friends who are fearful and overwhelmed by financial instability and future uncertainty? Is this a vivid reminder to pray for the lost and pray for opportunities to reach out to them, even if only via the phone and/or internet?

Jesus said, “This is what is written: The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations” (Luke 24:46-47).

What if we pray for a growing passion for God’s mission – the gospel to the world? What if God answers that prayer, and as a result, He uses this pandemic to bring about a great spiritual awakening for His glory and for our good? Let’s find out!

If you are struggling to find hope and peace in the midst of this pandemic, would you seek the Lord for His hope and peace? If you have not yet experienced this through a personal relationship with Him, check out The Story.

Read the Word

“Joshua read aloud all the words of the law – the blessings as well as the curses – according to all that is written in the book of the law” (Joshua 8:34).

If you read the end of Joshua 8, you will notice that Joshua was honoring God with an altar after a great victory God had given His people. Joshua was following God’s instructions, and then read God’s instructions – God’s Word – to all the people of Israel. He read all of it to them – “the blessings as well as the curses.”

How can we honor God like Joshua did and help others to do the same? By reading His Word, declaring His Word to others, and following His Word. Like Jesus said, we prove ourselves to be disciples by going and making disciples and baptizing them and teaching them to observe everything He has commanded us (Matthew 28:18-20). Oh, and He promises to be with His disciples “always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).

Do you know the Word? Are you reading the Word? Are you obeying the Word – all of it? With all of the incredible resources available to us in the English language (and in so many other languages), we have no excuse not to engage God daily through His Word.

Read the Word and pray for God’s help to obey.

If you have no desire to read God’s Word, perhaps you have not yet received God’s rescue from sin and death through His One and Only Son. Would you consider the Story and turn to Jesus today?