Family of God
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
As far as I can remember, Sunday morning church has been a part of my existence. It was never a question if we were going to be in church. In fact, on the rare occasion that we didn't go to church (only because we were on vacation), it felt weird.
The church has never been just a place to go on Sunday morning. Rather it is the people – a family of believers who has been there for me. Have there been hurts along the way? Of course! But the love I have experienced outweighs the wounds that I have received from fellow believers.
Now, as a pastor, our flock is our life. My husband and I have sacrificed a great deal over the years to serve God and the people He has given us to care for. But again, the rewards of helping people find Jesus are far greater than I could hope or imagine.
God created us to need Him and need the support of others. When we are down, we need the strength of our church family to lift us up. We are definitely stronger together.
1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." If you have ever watched a lion documentary, the lion has a strategy for the prey it hunts. As it scopes out a herd of deer or antelope from a hidden place, it is looking and waiting for one to leave the group's safety. The deer standing alone is an easier target for the lion.
Well, the devil is just like that lion. He is waiting to find the easy targets – people who are alone. He doesn't just wait for Christians to get alone, but he works to separate believers. No church, no message. No message, no seeds of faith will be planted. So, he stirs up a little offense here and some business there. Soon the believer is out of the habit of going to church, believing they are just fine by themselves. Don't fall into the devil's traps. As 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober and vigilant."
The church is about a family who supports and helps each other. It's not just the pastor's job to edify the congregation, but we are to exhort one another as our verse says. Notice this verse doesn't even talk about the pastor. Without a congregation encouraging one another, there is no growth in the body. Don't let another Sunday slip by – see you in church!
Dear Lord, thank you for giving me a family of believers to help support me. Help me to also have eyes to see who needs a little encouragement from me as well. Amen.