Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying this day and keeping warm. Burr! There is quite a wind today. This morning I studied, did food prep and went to Exercise class. Again it is too cold to do our walk outside so we will do it in the underground this afternoon.  We are thinking we may go to a movie later too.Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Are you a member of a perfect church where everyone feels loved, the worship lifts you to new heights and the sermon is full of amazing and motivating truths that leaves you wanting more? Or would you say you go to an imperfect church where there are conflicts at times, the worship isn’t all you desire to suite your preferences, and the sermons don’t always seem relevant?
I was reading an article on Crosswalk.com that Lindsey Maestras, a journalist, wrote about the importance of belonging to a church, even though it is imperfect. Our focus shouldn’t be all about the perfect worship or the perfect sermons, but it is about the Lord and hearing his Word that can change our lives to be more like Him. It is also about being in fellowship where we can grow as we connect with others and minister to one another. The enemy, on the other hand, will try to steer us away and distract us and cause us to complain, if we allow him. Instead, we can be asking God what He is trying to get through to us and that we be good responders. I am thankful to grow up in a home where church was an important part of our lives and neither the pastor nor the service was commented upon in a negative way.
Lindsey quoted C.S Lewis who put it this way:
“The perfect church service would be the one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God. But every novelty prevents this. It fixes our attention on the service itself; and thinking about worship is a different thing than worshipping. It is mad idolatry that makes the service better than the god.”
Lindsey also shares how we as the church are the hope of the world. Jesus responded to Peter after his confession that He was the Christ, the Son of the Living God in Matt. 16:18b (ESV) and said, “On this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus wants to build His church and use it to storm the gates of hell. Our mission is to love and serve Him and help others to come to know Him and become part of His Body. Let us not neglect our calling but connect together with others who have come to know Him who is head of the church.
Challenge for today: Be joined with others in a church home and help and encourage one another.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy