So many times I go to church, and although I love the service and worship, I am saddened to see so many people come and go without saying hi or God bless you, shake someone’s hands or introduce themselves. What a shame, as instead of lifting one another up, people are often left to feel like people do not care for them or their needs. Some of them don’t even return because nobody engaged with them at church. I pray that this is not you and what you do in church is different. Let us now learn from God and see what He desires of us all. As John was teaching his brothers and sisters in the faith, he said, 3“that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” He was helping the people understand that they were not just there to teach and preach but to also get to know them, lift them up and care for their needs. Church service was much more than to go and learn and worship God, it was an experience with everyone there also. This is why they often met and did church service in people’s homes. How wonderful is that. Now a days, many churches, like the one I go to have small groups that you can join. One I’ve chosen is Men’s ministry, of which I attend every first Saturday of the month. There, I am able to meet so many different people and from this experience, I am able to better fellowship with people in church. It is God’s will that we fellowship one with another. 2We are all part of the body of Christ, not separate. So get plugged in at your church and begin getting to know the people each week.
May you all come to Christ and allow Him to give you boldness. May the Lord, open your heart to talk to people, even when you are more often shy than not. God can help you do things, that even you are not comfortable with now, if you let Him. It will seem less awkward and more of a desire in your heart to do this, as you seek the Lord. This will then lead you to give yourself over to love one another, say hi and or God bless you, shake someone’s hand, introduce yourself and start conversations and even get the door for people. As Christians, we do this because God compels us to love one another. And what is amazing, when He transforms our lives, this is not a burden but a delight. John explains, 3“but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” When we are living in the light of the Lord, it is the person we have become to go to church and to also care for the people there. In doing this, the Lord can see that we do love Him and our neighbor as ourselves. Because of this love for God, His blood covers us. Our sins are forgiven. We are able to walk and talk differently for the Spirit of God is with us. We know that we are not sinless and therefore need His presence always, in order to withstand temptation. In closing, let us learn from David when he said, 1“But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.” Take counsel from God, and while in church, get to know the people around you.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, help us all to think outside ourselves and to love one another. May this love compel us all to talk to people in the faith and truly fellowship with them. Help us to introduce ourselves, even when our flesh wants to be quiet and to ourselves. Take away all the timidness from our hearts and minds and replace it with boldness. I know that so many people are saddened and even depressed because they love God but are never talked to in church. What a sad thing to see in churches all around us. I pray that we as Christians decide to change all this. May we look around us and begin to talk to more people. Yes Lord, fill us with the Holy Spirit. Help us know who is in the greatest need. And if we do have friends in church, put it in our hearts to invite them also to do this, that we may together love and care for people. I do pray that people will know that they are loved, when they are around me. May these people in church come to know my name and always know that I am there for them. If they need prayer, I will pray for them. If they need a person to talk, I will stay and listen. Whatever the needs are for the people in church, help me know their needs. I trust that You will show me. I love You Lord. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Psalm 55:1-14 (KJV)
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
21 Corinthians 12:12-28 (KJV)
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
31 John 1 (KJV)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
