Day 26: The Called-Along Community (Bonus Lesson 4)

 In the Old Testament, we find words like congregation, Zion, sometimes Jerusalem, and some others to convey the idea of a gathering or collective body of God's people.  In the New Testament, especially in the Apostles' letters to the church, we see it also emphasized in many ways.

Just like children are born into families, every believer should belong to a family of God's people. It is however in His discretion to choose our spiritual families just like He chose our physical families. Psalm 68:6 says:

"God sets the solitary in families... But the rebellious dwell in a dry land."

Wherever God sets us, His purposes remain the same. There are many things we can learn about the church, but of what benefit is the church to the individual Christian?

Many scriptures express this but there's something amazing we should know in Hebrews 10:25 to understand this subject.

"not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching." (AMP)

The word translated as 'encourage' is a word most commonly used by Paul in the New Testament. It's the verb form of the word translated as 'Comforter' when Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit's coming and His role in the life of the believer. Its literal meaning is to call alongside but it is translated in a lot of ways. To encourage, exhort, urge, implore, comfort, advocate, appeal, instruct, beseech...  In essence, what the Holy Spirit does within us, a church is to do much the same from the outside.

This word's meanings and interpretations are really broad but six phrases attempt to explain it adequately and they express the benefits of a local church. They are:

1. To rekindle a flame (gently blowing on a dying fire till it's vibrant again)
2. To comfort, console, or strengthen
3. To call for a physician (like the desperate cry for help for a wounded person)
4. To encourage a discouraged troop
5. To plead one's case (as an advocate - intercession)
6. To admonish, instruct and teach

From these, we can see that a church is not merely a social gathering. It's the wisdom of God to equip and make us thrive in our Christian journey.

See, technology is awesome. I can't imagine how the past generations survived without a phone or the internet, but you can't get the best out of the church by only attending online. Likewise, you can't get the best by attending without making meaningful connections. The church is to be a community of people doing life together, spurring each other on.

Psalm 92:13 says:

"Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God."

As a tree needs both the right internal and external environment to grow, flourish and bear fruit so does the individual Christian. I said earlier that what the Holy Spirit does within us, a church is to do much the same from the outside. So, without being grounded in a local church, no Christian can thrive.

PRAY WITH ME:

Thank you, Lord, for the wisdom of the local church. I make a new commitment today, in the assurance of your love and submission to your sovereignty, to be grounded in your desired spiritual family for me so that I may flourish, grow and be all you intend for me to be. Amen.

REFLECT AND ACT:

• Do you belong to a local assembly? Ask God to lead you to the one He has prepared for you if you do not.
• If you do belong to a local assembly, are you convinced that it is the family God ordained for you, and are you intentionally making efforts to connect with people and be grounded in it?