We Need Each Other
This year we had a new mission statement for our church. I am sure some people might call it a purpose statement or even a vision statement. It doesn't matter what we call it. It matters if we accomplish what God desires for us, and we believe this mission statement does just that. It is:RELATIONSHIPS MATTER, GROWING RELATIONSHIPS FOR OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY. Of course, our relationship with God comes first, and it must be growing all the time . However, we need each other, too. Without other believers, it is doubtful that we will stay close to the Lord and keep growing in Him.(Hebrews 10:24,25) Let's think about it.
We all need to be stirred up to love like Jesus loves and to do good works. Very few, if any, of us are completely self starters. God commands us to constantly consider how to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to love and to good works. If we all do that for each other, we all grow in the Lord and in our relationships with each other and even with people who are not Christians. We can't share the gospel very effectively without having relationships with people who need the Lord.
A vital part of this is assembling together for worship and Bible study each week. It is very difficult to know each other, and to know how to stir each other up, if we do not meet together regularly. I believe that is why God commanded us to set aside the Sabbath Day as holy. Today, as Christians, we keep the Lord's Day, or Sunday as our Sabbath, so that we can worship the Lord and focus on Him while we rest from our normal labor. A healthy relationship with the Lord and with others depends on our assembling together in His name. It is then, we receive exhortation from teachers, preachers, and other believers, Exhortation is a great word. It means encouragement to apply what we know and what we learn in our lives.
One day we will stand before the Lord on the Day of Judgment. Each day we live brings us closer to that day. If we are not intentional about encouraging each other and meeting together in these ways, I do not believe we will be ready to meet the Lord. Therefore, every day that passes should cause us to be more diligent in these things.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 12-13 and James 1.
We all need to be stirred up to love like Jesus loves and to do good works. Very few, if any, of us are completely self starters. God commands us to constantly consider how to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to love and to good works. If we all do that for each other, we all grow in the Lord and in our relationships with each other and even with people who are not Christians. We can't share the gospel very effectively without having relationships with people who need the Lord.
A vital part of this is assembling together for worship and Bible study each week. It is very difficult to know each other, and to know how to stir each other up, if we do not meet together regularly. I believe that is why God commanded us to set aside the Sabbath Day as holy. Today, as Christians, we keep the Lord's Day, or Sunday as our Sabbath, so that we can worship the Lord and focus on Him while we rest from our normal labor. A healthy relationship with the Lord and with others depends on our assembling together in His name. It is then, we receive exhortation from teachers, preachers, and other believers, Exhortation is a great word. It means encouragement to apply what we know and what we learn in our lives.
One day we will stand before the Lord on the Day of Judgment. Each day we live brings us closer to that day. If we are not intentional about encouraging each other and meeting together in these ways, I do not believe we will be ready to meet the Lord. Therefore, every day that passes should cause us to be more diligent in these things.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 12-13 and James 1.