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Devotional for the week – 2 November 2009 Sermon Title: The Church Family When God saved us from darkness and brought us to the light, He did not just leave us to worship alone. He placed us in a church. For although it is important that we spend time with God developing a personal relationship, there is a need for us to be part of a family. Why is it important to be part of a community of believers? Beyond the chance to learn to love one another and to serve in the ministry, what were other reasons that the Father, in all His wisdom, had for us to stand together as one? That We Might Remind One Another Being a new Christian is like being a plain-looking girl who has just discovered that she is the most beautiful person in the eyes of a young man - not just any young man, but a rich and powerful young man. Before this, the girl had often wondered what her prospective suitor would offer her father for her hand, that is, if a suitor ever came along. She reckoned that with her looks, her father could never hope to receive a cow as a dowry in exchange for her. At best, he would be offered a goat. Imagine her surprise when she discovered that the rich young man had offered her father neither a goat nor one cow, but eight cows for a chance to marry her! As the days went by, basking in the love of the young man, the girl became more and more beautiful - so beautiful that she became known as ‘the eight-cow woman’. We, too, are loved by God Almighty, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and who is so powerful that the wind and the waves obey His word. This God loves us so much that He sent His only son to save us. And He has placed us in a church so that, together, we might remind each other to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess...” (Hebrews 10:23) - the hope that God will fulfil His promises among His people - “...for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). It is this reminder that will cause the church to radiate joy, so that all who behold it will know of His love. That we might Spur Each Other On The days ahead can be greater if we, as a church, hold fast to our belief in what God can do. But for this to happen we need to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb 10:24). We need to build each other’s faith so that, as a body, we dare to believe. This is especially important today because we live in a world where we are often pressed down. We are told `this cannot be done’ or `that cannot be achieved’. By spurring one another on, we build each other’s faith. It is like a dog who is rewarded for bringing a newspaper to his master. The master rewards the dog with a treat and, spurred on by that reward, the dog finds other newspapers, maybe from other gardens, to present to its master, hoping for yet another reward. In a similar manner, words of encouragement like “I like what you did” or “You are really a blessing to the ministry” spur us on to do God’s work. And as we speak these words to one another, each and every member will seek to do God’s will. It is then that God will do great things through His church. That we Look for Service Opportunities As we spur one another on and grow in our faith, we will, as a church, then begin to ask for opportunities to do things for God. When our pleas are earnest, God hears us and presents us with opportunities for service - opportunities that we must rise up and seize. The story is told of a young man who wanted to marry a beautiful girl. He approached the father of the girl and was told that he must first face three bulls. If he can catch the tail of one of these bulls, he can marry the girl. The young man was placed in a ring and the first gate was opened. He saw a very angry bull. He decided that this bull was too powerful for him and gave it a miss. The gate closed but another opened. This time, the young man saw an even more fearful-looking beast. The young man gave this bull and miss too. The second gate closed and the third was opened. This gate housed a scrawny, tired-looking bull. `This is the bull for me,’ thought the man. And he readied himself to grab the tail as the bull passed by. However, he discovered that this bull had no tail! Like the man, the church, too, can miss the chance to serve God if we are not alert to the opportunities God presents us. It is therefore necessary for us to “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another...” (Hebrews 10:25). God placed us in a body so that we might seek His vision together, and together, look out for the opportunities He presents. By doing so, we confirm what He is saying and move when we are convinced that it is His will we are doing. That we Remember the Father Even as we do His will, we need to be reminded that the wonderful and supernatural things that happen around us are not of our own doing. The Christian is like a man who needs to be reminded that a faucet or tap cannot produce water on its own. There is a source attached to it. Being in a church, reminds us that God is at work in His body. That it is not our works or efforts that make the church great. The church is nothing without God. The church needs God, “...all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) Prayer Response Lord, thank you for blessing the church all these years. We see the evidence of your blessings in this community, which You have placed us in. We believe You can and want to do far more in us; that you want great things to happen. Stir our faith, Lord - faith in you and all that you are about to do. We commit this church into your hands. Take us and all we are and use it to your glory. Devotional based on a sermon by Rev Edmund de Souza.
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