21 Day Devotional: Day 21: Helping in My Local Church.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

Your attendance in a church building is not a requirement for your attendance in Heaven.  The “church” is actually not the building you go to and participate in praise in worship and hear a message.  The “church” is actually the body of believers who assemble themselves together.  As believers, we are brothers and sisters, family, and children of God.  And, it is for our good that we assemble together.

Hebrews tells us that the primary reason we need to associate with other believers is to exhort one another.  To lift each other up.  To give praise reports.  To bring prayer requests.  To make us individually stronger and as a family stronger.  It’s hard to build relationships with people we never see.  In our technological world, so much of our communication is through social media and texts and snapchats.  But, real relationships require face to face talking and conversation and communication.  When we come together, we can converse and pray for one another and lift one another up… this is why you need to assemble.

Working in our local church also helps builds the body.  As with any organization, one or two people cannot carry the full workload.  And, while it is not our works that solidify us a place in Heaven, we are instructed to be Jesus hands and feet.  Our bodies, created in His image, have two hands and two feet.  That’s four appendages… that’s four people.  If you go on and count other body parts, we have arms, legs, a torso, a neck, a face, ears, eyes, and a mouth.  That’s more people.  And, if we get real complicated, we can start naming the muscles and bones and tendons.  The Bible says that the church is a body.  And, if we are a body, the body is composed of many parts.  Each part important, and each part with a job it must do.

“For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)

If you read this chapter of the Bible, each part of the body has a function.  And, just because you are not an eye, doesn’t mean you aren’t important.  If there were only eyes, how would you hear?  If there were only ears, how would you speak?  If there were only mouths, how would you walk?  Each member of the body is important.  Each member of the church is important and has a function.  We are stronger together.  We can be strong for each other, and when we come together as a body, we move and work in accordance and we can reach others outside of our church walls.

Sometimes it may feel like your contribution is less important… but rest assured, it is very important.  The little toe is not considered one of the most attractive parts of the body.  Nobody ever says they were attracted to someone’s little toe… they may be attracted to the eyes, or the face, or the smile… but not the little toe.  However, your balance when walking requires the little toe.  Every contribution made to the body of Christ is essential for balance and smooth operation! 

Read John Chapter 21.