As I prepare to go back to the city where I fell in love with Jesus (San Diego) I think back to all that I have learned those 8 months ago. I have learned the intimate and deep love God longs to give us. I have learned the salvation his forgiveness allows us. I have learned the true meaning of wholeness. I have learned that he can feed my hunger pains better then any food, man, movie, or anything else in this world, can. I have most of all learned the Truth about Jesus.
I think about how many people in this world claim to know Jesus but then speak lies among this world. Of course we all sin, we are human, but I am not talking about being just a sinner. I am talking about religion, the church, corporate Christianity. Why do you think so many people have turned away from God? Do you think it's because they have heard Truth? Do you think it's because they have experienced his grace and love from His people and the community they are surrounded by? No. It is because of the hatred we possess, the power we crave, the judgement we pass on each other.
My Pastor spoke about what the body of the church looks like in his sermon last Sunday. I feel like so many Churches today forget the meaning of community and what the body of Christ means. We get so caught up in numbers and how we look. But in Acts 2:42-47 it says "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. All the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."
You see, it's not about making us look good or how many times you go to church a year. We must be a community, we must love one another, share each others belongings, give our time, our money, invest in each other and our church. We are a family, just like in every other family, there are good and bad times. There are times when we want to just leave but we always forgive our families and move on from it. We must do that with our church families as well, just because we don't have the same last name doesn't mean we aren't a family.
We all talk about how we want to bring the glory of God to Earth and bring all of His people to Him. But then we turn around and judge, and condemn and turn away and we stop investing in people. We begin to become bitter and wonder "What's in it for me?" We must serve each other 100 percent and expect nothing in return. This is how we will show the glory of God, this is how we show our love to God.
If we act as God asks us to and we become a community, welcoming everyone and speaking Truth into their lives we will see a revival, we will see salvation. I don't know about you but I want to see all of my friends and family spending eternal life with the King.
Bless you all,
Heather
