church

I Am Missing Church!

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

Not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 ESV

Oh I know all about meeting online, making phone calls, and watching countless videos but I miss the little things about church. I miss wildly flipping through my Bible’s pages trying to keep up with our young pastor’s messages. I miss seeing the faces of my brothers and sisters and feeling their hugs and handshakes. I miss hearing voices of people crowded into the seats next to ours. I even miss just hanging out after the service and catching up with friends. But more than all these I, miss the hushed moment as the communion plate is passed and together we remember the sacrifice that Jesus made so that we could have eternal life – a life shared together with Him and all the family of God.. Not one of us knows when this Corona virus crisis will be over but when it is I will wager dollars to donuts that there will be tears of joy as once again we enter our places of worship. Maybe we will treasure a little more one of God’s gifts that we so often take for granted -the gift of one another. Maybe this trial by fire will open our eyes and our hearts to see the church the way that Jesus does. He is our Good Shepherd and together we are the flock of God for whom He laid down His life. Maybe this will teach us to appreciate and honor one another more. Maybe when the doors swing open again we will eagerly come and embrace one another because we have been reminded of the value of the church, the Body of Jesus Christ.

The Missing Piece

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When the puzzle was almost together we noticed something missing…. It was the final piece! Ten minutes of searching yielded our prize which had discovered a hiding place under the table! But our victory was short lived because surprisingly even though there was only one open space left the piece we found didn’t fit!

That is when my wife’s sharp eyes picked out the problem. One of the other puzzle pieces had taken its place. The same is also true in the church. Two bad things happen when we try to be something we are not. The place God chose for us remains empty and we also steal the spot that God designed someone else to fill!

Let God fit you in where you belong and the puzzle will show the world the face of Jesus Christ!

Jesus Cleans House

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And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” Mark 11:17 ESV

The same man who forgave a woman caught in adultery and happily ate with sinners became angry when He went to the temple to pray. But Jesus shouted as he drove the buyers and sellers away saying indignantly, “Is it not written My House shall be called a house of prayer?” Now a case can be made that Jesus was upset because of where these vendors were set up; but more importantly was that when Jesus said the word “House” he also meant family. In other words when God’s family meets they should be identified as brothers and sisters who come together to pray. Of course it is easy for us 2,000 years later to be critical, but are we any better today?  We have youth events, senior ministry and worship services but we are still first and foremost a family of prayer?

But if we maneuver our way into desirable positions or try to take unfair advantage of others we are putting ourselves right back at the money changer’s tables. Special events are great. Fellowship is important. But can we say that prayer was the main thing that happened at church last Sunday? Then also notice that Jesus went on to say that His family was supposed to be for all nations. Are nations are showing up at our places of worship?  Jesus wants to clean His house of anything that keep us apart. Then when everyone brings their own inheritance into God’s family then together we can be the richest folks on the block! And when not one is missing we are also His family indeed!

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