When we purpose to guard our hearts and minds in truth, we live in hope. When we pull our eyes off of the temporal or material and instead focus them on the eternal, we live in joy.
The theme for today finds us surrounded by our brothers and sisters in Christ, thankful for the fellowship of believers that make up the Bride of Christ.
Have you ever been on vacation, and decided to stop and find a church on Sunday? The feeling of being greeted and welcomed, of singing familiar - and unfamiliar! - songs of praise in another place... it is hard to explain how we can simply step into a church we have never been to before, and somehow feel at home. This is family.
Oh, our churches aren't perfect. Actually, as soon as one human being gets involved, we can pretty much guarantee that. Admittedly, God chose imperfect instruments for His work in the church. But we are bound to Him. We are a part of a body, but we don't follow each other. We look to the Head of the body; we follow only Him, only our Lord Jesus Christ.
"...Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for her." Eph 5:25. Yes, and we should revel in the sense of purpose, of support, and of one-ness we can find only within the bonds of fellowship with those who share the name Christian.
We are so thankful for the local bodies of Christ that we call our church homes! We are so thankful for the larger body of Christ which includes those of all nations, languages, culture, and race. We look forward to the day when we all worship our Lord face-to-face, together! Meanwhile, we are His body, His hands, His feet, and His voice in this world. Let's be about the business of the One who called us!
Blessings,
Patti & Cara
Classic Christianity