The Church
It has been 11 weeks now since the church has met together in person. I am certain many of us have never experienced anything like this. During these many weeks, I have reflected on what a privilege it has been every week to meet, to worship and hear the Word of God corporately. A privilege frankly speaking that I have taken for granted. Praise God, we have had other ways of connecting like on-line church, now drive in church, zoom meetings and texts/phone calls. But with all these connections, none of it compares to being together in person as the body of Christ.
Romans 12:4-5 AMP
4 For just as in one [physical] body we have many parts, and these parts do not all have the same function or special use, 5 so we, who are many, are [nevertheless just] one body in Christ, and individually [we are] parts one of another [mutually dependent on each other].
The body was created by God to be physically together. Each part of the body is dependent upon another part for proper function. The foot cannot function properly without the blood supply from the heart pumping oxygen to it. The kidney cannot function properly without sufficient intake of water. Mankind has created supplemental ways of supplying oxygen and water and ways of bypassing other areas in order that the body is still able to function properly. Praise God for that! Praise God we have cell phones, social media, zoom meetings and YouTube so we can still maintain connections with our church body, but these are just supplements.
Some may decide at the end of the pandemic when we are able to meet in person as a body of Christ, that they are fine to continue this way. But I would challenge you if you are that person thinking this way and reading this right now, this is NOT what God created. God created the body to be ONE in body and spirit!
Ephesians 4:3-6
3 Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful]. 4 There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] overall and [working] through all and [living] in all.
Hebrews 10:24 24 and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, 25 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.
There is something supernatural that happens when the church meets together corporately. There is NO substitute for it! God works on each individual and the church as a body in ways that otherwise cannot be done. I want to encourage you today, do NOT become apathetic in your desire and prayers for the church to meet soon. Do NOT allow the supplements take place of meeting together in person. And let us all NOT ever again take for granted the great privilege we have in meeting as the body of Christ!
-Jenn
#EverythingUnderTheSon
