PEOPLE WHO PLAY CHURCH
Greetings in the name of Jesus:
I want us to think a little more about this idea of "Playing Church" and what that really means. Most of us have gotten very comfortable with the ideas of what to expect when we go to a church meeting of any kind. In fact for many people it is the familiar surroundings of the music and the fellowship that draw us back to a particular church time and again. What I am speaking of is not that good part of comfort in one another that we have, but the kind of comfort that makes us refuse to take risks in Christ.
When I look at the church that Jesus established I can see some very basic needs that were met. Emotional security for those who were laying their lives down on the line for their faith in God...and in particular their faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Then there was the physical parts of that security that allowed many people a place to still be able to make a living by trading and buying goods and services. We often do not think about the tremendous amount of persecution that the church went through in it's beginning. There were great reasons for those people to stick closely together. In fact it reminds me of the ways various ethnic groups cling together when they move to America...they all seem to collect in the small areas and together in a large city creating a neighborhood.
We have gotten away from that feeling within the church because we rarely make contact with one another during the week because we have no reason to. Actually the reasons to stay in touch with one another out of love for the other still is there...it's just forgotten. One of the base principals of our faith is to show that love to one another, and it is one of the greatest keys to our witness as a body of believers to the community around us. You see it is the ways we look at our relationship with one another that not only effects our lives, but the lives of others who see how we are actually caring for one another. It is a principal of what the Kingdom of Heaven is like to those who see it at work within us. Every time we give a cup of water to a thirsty man (as the bible says) we do it unto Christ, and this world will see that. The more that we can show affection to one another the more this world will see what it really means to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven in a practical sense...and that draws people to God who have lost all hope and faith.
Most people don't pay attention to real love from someone until they are in need of it. I have heard it said that unless something really personally impacts someones life directly they will avoid getting involved. In Philippians 1: Paul write about the joy that is found in suffering. I don't think we realize all the suffering that we are all going through right now together, and yet some how all alone as well. The Church /Family that God has put together for us should work in such a way that we can always turn to one another to fin comfort and help in times of need. That kind of love is a cultivated thing however, it does not come naturally. We spoke earlier about working on cultivating the soil of the lives of those who are new in Christ so that the seeds of faith could grow properly, but we continue to add to one another every day in creating good and rich soil so the word can continue to grow and produce fruit of the Holy Spirit in us. Love is a bi product of that cultivation of soil, and God uses it to draw those who have been kicked around by this world or who have been watch you and me love one another in ways they never had experienced before. This becomes a true witness of God glory and greatness as we allow Him to control our lives and our times of worship...and yes our daily activities during the week. The body of Christ that you attend right now can be that way too , but you need to start to seek out ways to make that happen through love. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
I want us to think a little more about this idea of "Playing Church" and what that really means. Most of us have gotten very comfortable with the ideas of what to expect when we go to a church meeting of any kind. In fact for many people it is the familiar surroundings of the music and the fellowship that draw us back to a particular church time and again. What I am speaking of is not that good part of comfort in one another that we have, but the kind of comfort that makes us refuse to take risks in Christ.
When I look at the church that Jesus established I can see some very basic needs that were met. Emotional security for those who were laying their lives down on the line for their faith in God...and in particular their faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Then there was the physical parts of that security that allowed many people a place to still be able to make a living by trading and buying goods and services. We often do not think about the tremendous amount of persecution that the church went through in it's beginning. There were great reasons for those people to stick closely together. In fact it reminds me of the ways various ethnic groups cling together when they move to America...they all seem to collect in the small areas and together in a large city creating a neighborhood.
We have gotten away from that feeling within the church because we rarely make contact with one another during the week because we have no reason to. Actually the reasons to stay in touch with one another out of love for the other still is there...it's just forgotten. One of the base principals of our faith is to show that love to one another, and it is one of the greatest keys to our witness as a body of believers to the community around us. You see it is the ways we look at our relationship with one another that not only effects our lives, but the lives of others who see how we are actually caring for one another. It is a principal of what the Kingdom of Heaven is like to those who see it at work within us. Every time we give a cup of water to a thirsty man (as the bible says) we do it unto Christ, and this world will see that. The more that we can show affection to one another the more this world will see what it really means to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven in a practical sense...and that draws people to God who have lost all hope and faith.
Most people don't pay attention to real love from someone until they are in need of it. I have heard it said that unless something really personally impacts someones life directly they will avoid getting involved. In Philippians 1: Paul write about the joy that is found in suffering. I don't think we realize all the suffering that we are all going through right now together, and yet some how all alone as well. The Church /Family that God has put together for us should work in such a way that we can always turn to one another to fin comfort and help in times of need. That kind of love is a cultivated thing however, it does not come naturally. We spoke earlier about working on cultivating the soil of the lives of those who are new in Christ so that the seeds of faith could grow properly, but we continue to add to one another every day in creating good and rich soil so the word can continue to grow and produce fruit of the Holy Spirit in us. Love is a bi product of that cultivation of soil, and God uses it to draw those who have been kicked around by this world or who have been watch you and me love one another in ways they never had experienced before. This becomes a true witness of God glory and greatness as we allow Him to control our lives and our times of worship...and yes our daily activities during the week. The body of Christ that you attend right now can be that way too , but you need to start to seek out ways to make that happen through love. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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