Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 14, 2020
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47, NKJV
I found Jesus and Jesus found me in the church—and the church is where I continue to grow in my faith and in my love for Jesus and people. The church is the Body of Christ made up of those who believe in and follow Jesus—who have been baptized and seek to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. The church as an institution is necessary to carry out the long held teachings, and traditions that honor the Lord and bring glory to God. The church is not to be worshiped, but to be a convener of worshippers who gather in praise and adoration of Almighty God the creator of heaven and earth. The church with its flaws lifts up the flawless one Jesus for all to come to faith.
The early church met together in unity around the ultimate unifier Jesus Christ. They met daily in the place of worship—the temple—and continued their fellowship in the more intimate setting of homes for sharing meals, celebrating the Lord’s faithfulness and growing their love for one another. Those in need knew the generosity of other believers would care for them as Jesus had instructed. Giving to another Jesus follower was like giving to Jesus Himself. Love gives! The church is a hospital for the hurting, the broken and the sinful—and loving grace is God’s remedy.
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:16)?
What is the church? The church was founded and empowered to flourish by Jesus Christ. He is the cornerstone of Christianity, which cannot and will never be moved. Even the gates of hell are unable to make inroads into what heaven has established on earth. What the devil tries to discredit, Christ is able to legitimize through His unfailing love and mercy. When you obey the Lord, you are showing those outside the church how to love well. Generous love is irresistible to those who resist faith. A church brimming with disciples of love will transform an angry world.
What is the church? The head of the church is Christ. Our marching orders come from the One full of grace and truth. We fear God, because we love and adore Him who brought us from death to life, who led us out of the darkness into the light and who swept our soul off the slippery slope of selfishness to the solid ground of selfless, Spirit led living. Earthly authorities will abuse power, but to Him who has all power—Almighty God, we submit in humble worship. Because Jesus is the founder and owner of the church, we can rest assured He will do what’s best for His bride. While we wait on our groom to return—let’s love well, let’s witness and make disciples!
“He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:20-23, NKJV).
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you for being the groom to faithfully love and care for your bride the church, in Your name I pray, amen.
Application
How can I become a solution to the challenges facing the church?
Related Reading
2 Corinthians 8:1- 24; Colossians 1:18, 24; 1 Timothy 3:15; 3 John 5-7
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