“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10
God created us, called us and gifted us to come alongside one another. As Scripture points out, we are to do good to all people, but we are to start with our family of believers.
Too often I hear people say “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.” While this statement is true, that mindset is not biblical.
Attending church does not make you a Christian, no more than practicing all of the spiritual disciplines like praying, reading your bible, tithing, or helping the poor. These are actions that overflow from our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. These are the things we do because we are Christians.
Our salvation comes when we place our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives. When we do this we not only enter into an eternal relationship with God, but we now belong to His family (Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 4:15-16).
God sent His Son not only to pay the penalty of our sins, but to also establish His church. (Matthew 16:18, Galatians 3:10)
God works through His body of believers. If you belong to God’s family, you should also belong to His body of believers. Yes, that does mean a local church.
Scripture describes those who have placed their faith in Christ, Christians, as the body of Christ (1Corinthians 12:27). A body is one unit with many functioning parts (1Corinthians 12:12). If parts are missing or not functioning properly, the body suffers (1Corinthians 12:25-26).
As a body of believers, we create the church (Colossians 1:18, Colossians 1:24,). Yes this does mean THE CHURCH (capital C) but this also means the local church-a smaller congregation of believers who gather together to come alongside one another as Scripture tells us to.
We cannot be part of His body (in full fellowship with God) if we are not part of a local church.
Are you an active part of God’s body?
God not only calls us to be part of his body, but He calls us to be intimately entwined with one another. We are to fellowship with one another.
Most of us think of things like potluck Sunday when we hear the word fellowship. This word in the original language is ‘koinonia’. It means community and joint participation. It is being in agreement with one another, united in purpose, and serving alongside one other.
Biblical fellowship goes far beyond a casual community. It means we intimately know one another’s wants, needs, desires and hearts. The only way to do this is to spend time with one another.
Going back to our Galatians 6:10 verse; if we are to do good especially to our family of believers, we should be an active part of a local body of believers. We should get to know those believers with heartfelt intimacy. We should also come alongside them as God’s Word has commanded us to do.
As we build up the church, we are then stronger to face the challenges life throws our way; as individuals and as a body of believers.
The stronger the church is the more capable it is of reaching out to the lost. We cannot serve others well if we ourselves are not healthy. A healthy body is one that is being cared for.
As we seek to come alongside one another let us remember, that God calls us to come alongside our fellow believers first.
Thank you Father for my family of believers. Life is better with the love, support and encouragement I receiver from this family. May I always seek to serve them the way You have called me to.
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