Monday September 18, 2023

Today is Monday, September 18 and we are exploring what the Bible says about being part of a church community.

As I enter this time of prayer, I pause and become still. I breathe deeply and slowly and focus myself entirely upon God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord, thank you for loving me. I am grateful you are always there to communicate with me throughout my day. Help me to slow down and seek your voice in my life. Teach me to listen with the ears of my heart and discern the particular message you have for me. Amen.

Early in the morning, I bow before the Lord my God and worship him with the words of Psalm 95.

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice. Psalm 95:6-7

Pause and Pray

To comprehend what it means to participate in a church community, I must grasp what it means to be a part of a “church” at all. I want to return to scripture to understand the concept of “church” and ask God to reveal my role in it. A church is not a building but a community of people. A church is primarily a local group of Christian believers who share common faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, gather to worship him and share in the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. In the New Testament times churches often met in homes for worship and fellowship in places like Ephesus, Thessalonica, Corinth and Rome. In his letter to the Roman church, Paul instructs the believers to adopt the right attitude of mind and explains their relationship to one another.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:3-8

Although Paul’s words are addressed to a small group of ancient Christian believers in the city of Rome centuries ago, I hear him speaking directly to me. In relation to my brothers and sisters in Christ, I am not to think of myself more highly than I ought but adopt a posture of humility. Overrating my importance, prioritizing my needs or my family’s needs over others in the community can lead to a host of negative emotions and unhealthy actions. I am to see myself with sober judgment which means seeing myself from God’s perspective. What I have to offer the faith community is not any more or less important than anyone else. I consider my own human body – feet that walked me from my morning rest to the place I now sit, hands that hold my cell phone, fingers that click their way to the First 15, eyes that peruse today’s words on a page, all parts of my body are functioning together in my current activity. They do not have the same function, yet all are needed. They come together to form one body, my body and each member serves the others.

Ask: When I think about my church, how do I visualize my place in comparison to all the other people? In this passage, Paul mentions seven different gifts, which gift most resonates with me?

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord God, thank you for my church. I am grateful for my faith in Jesus Christ and the opportunity to be part of a community of believers. Forgive me when I think of myself more highly than I ought and help me see my place in the community with sober judgment. Show me my role as a member of a body of believers. Bless my relationships and reveal what it means for me to belong to a group sharing my gifts with cheerful diligence and faith. I read the words from Romans again and listen for the message you have for me.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:3-8

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

God cares a great deal about my church. He also cares about me and my family and knows that we need the church. If I am to mature in my faith it is important that I am connected to a Christian community. God wants to speak to me directly about my participation in the church. I repeat the word or phrase that stands out to me from the Romans passage, record it in my journal and plan to reflect on it throughout the day. Perhaps I will discover where God wants me to be in relationship with other Christians, realize how I am to grow and serve, fulfill my purpose and find meaning for my life. Maybe God wants me to claim (or reclaim) the gifts he has given me that are to be used in my church. Perhaps God wants to answer questions I have been asking about my particular church. Maybe God wants to reveal the untapped potential my church can have on my future.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, I invite you into my heart, my home and my church. At this age and stage of my faith journey, reveal your perfect design for me to mature as a believer surrounded by a community of faithful Christians. Bless and strengthen my church relationships and lead me to new and deeper connections with brothers and sisters in the faith. Amen.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

As I leave this time of prayer, I go as a grateful member of the body of Christ seeking to faithfully serve my church with the gifts God has given me.

Amen