Devotional: “Church”
What is a church supposed to look like? Is it supposed to be a big fancy building with all the newest technologies in it or is it supposed to be a small little building out in the country with old wooden pews? There are around 350,000 churches in America with an average of 56 million in attendance according to a study done back in 2010. In a study put out in 2013 of the 100 largest churches in the US, Texas has 17 of them. That is awesome that Texas has that many mega churches but it is not about the building or the seating capacity at all! T
I don’t know if you noticed but those buildings called churches are closed, so what are we going to do about it? God called the people to be the church. Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” There was a man named Henry Poppen and he was missionary in China, and he spent 40 years telling the Chinese people about the Love of Jesus and how He died to take our sins. One day after he finished speaking a man approached Henry and said we know this Jesus! He was here! Henry explained how that wasn’t possible because Jesus lived and died a long time ago in a country far from China. But the man insisted this Jesus died there in China and he would even show him his grave. He led Mr. Poppen outside the city to a cemetery where an American doctor was buried. This American doctor felt called by God to live and die among the people of this remote Chinese village. And when the people heard Henry’s describe the attributes of Jesus-His mercy, His Love, His kindness, His willingness to forgive and they remembered this American doctor.
If you want to know what the church looks like glance at a mirror because the church is us! If we are going to be the church then we have a code of conduct to live by. Galatians 5:22 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Notice it says fruit not fruits. That means we don’t get to pick and choose which ones we want, we need to be examples of All of them. It doesn’t matter how long the buildings we gather in are closed down what matters is are we being the Light for other to see?
“When you approach Me with thanksgiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through. Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving.”
Sarah Young
“Jesus Calling” Devotional