When times are tough our Christian witness becomes crucial. Can we remain calm in the midst of strife? Can we practice integrity in the face of corruption? Can we demonstrate kindness and compassion in the midst of selfishness and cruelty. In a culture that thrives on seeking immediate pleasures we must demonstrate the value of sacrifice. In a world that shouts when you are done wrong: “Don’t get mad. Get even!” We seek to model God’s grace.
In a world like this we do the best we can but we often come up short and for our efforts we are branded by the world as hypocrites who cannot practice what we preach.
Yet, people often ask me: “Why do we need the church?”
What we are asked to do and to be as Christians is simply impossible to do on our own. We desperately need God to guide us, every day, every hour, every minute.
We need God. We need each other.
We find God, we support each other in the church. For all of our imperfections, there is no other place I would rather be than God’s church.
Paul writes in Colossians 2: 6-7 — “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
We have accepted Christ as our Lord… now what?
- You must continue to follow him.
- Let your roots grow down into him.
- Let your lives be built on him.
That is what every church should hope to model.
- Support in the form of worship and prayer as you continue to follow him.
- Teaching to help your roots grow down into him.
- Ministry and mission as your lives are built on him.
As a church we support each other within the grace and power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Paul continues in Colossians 2: 8-10 with a warning about the world we live in. “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”
The world will tempt us with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense but in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So rather than succumb to the temptation we are made complete through our union with Christ.
It is in the church where we fight the temptations and find answers for the empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that surrounds us.
It is in the church where we find support, teaching and an opportunity to demonstrate the grace of God.
In this world, we need God and we need each other. For all of our human imperfections, I can think of no better place to find and model God’s amazing grace than in God’s church.
As you prepare to be a leader in God’s church, I pray these words remind you that what we do is important.
As you prepare to be a leader in God’s church, I pray you are comforted knowing that God will be with you.
As you prepare to be a part of God’s church this morning, I pray you feel God’s all-powerful Holy Spirit stirring within you.
There is no place I would rather be today than in God’s church.
When times are tough our Christian witness becomes crucial.
In the church we learn to remain calm in the midst of strife?
We seek to practice integrity in the face of corruption?
We can demonstrate kindness and compassion in the midst of selfishness and cruelty.
In a culture that seems to thrive on seeking immediate pleasures we demonstrate the value of sacrifice.
In a world that shouts when you are done wrong: “Don’t get mad. Get even!” We seek to model God’s grace.
Wow!
I will be praying for you today as I know you are praying for me.
May we represent God’s church knowing God is with us.
Hallelujah and Amen.
