Today’s reading is John 1:1-2:25.

“And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out teh coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade’” (John 2:15-16).

Jesus was talking about the temple under the Old Covenant. Yet, I can’t help but remember that the church is the Father’s house now (I Timothy 3:15). What a great blessing to know that Christ’s church is not about business. When I gather with Christ’s church it is not about impressing folks so they will be my customers. I don’t have to put on a mask so they will buy my products. I can be me.

When I look at my brethren who are gathering in the household of God, they are not my customer-base. They are not folks from which I can take and take. Instead, I am their servant. This is the Lord’s house, not His business. This is about relationships, not bottom lines. When I let my involvement in Christ’s church be a business transaction, I lose the great benefit of the fellowship with other saved sinners who are overcoming the tempter.

Today, I need to remember who I’m looking at in Christ’s church. I’m looking at brothers and sisters; I’m not looking at customers and business partners. I’m looking at other children of my Father. I need to keep this relationship about Him.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 1 Timothy 2:1-3:16.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings, be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peacefull and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

What a relief it is to know that I don’t have to have political opinions to be a Christian. What a relief it is to know that I don’t have to agree with everyone else politically to be doing what God wants about politics and legislation. What a relief it is to know that Christ’s church can have unity while the world breaks its head in political unrest. What a relief it is to know that I don’t have to be a political activist, filled with anxiety about the latest laws. What a relief it is to know that I don’t have to argue about healthcare, gun control, immigration, taxes, or even the legislation about homosexuality or abortion in Christ’s church.

All I have to do is put the nation in God’s hands, praying to Him that our leaders will allow us to live our Christian lives in peace. And, of course, trusting Him to care for me if our leaders refuse to do that.

What a wonderfully glorious principle it is to see that we can have unity despite political differences because God’s will isn’t about getting certain national legislation passed and we can keep all that arguing and divisiveness out of the church. Oh it is so good when a body of believers can have this peace and leave all that political pressure and posturing outside the relationship we have in Christ.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 1 Corinthians 12:1-13:13.

“But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose” (1 Corinthians 12:18).

This is great to know. The nose is exactly where God wanted the nose. The hands are exactly where God wanted the hands. The eyes exactly where God wanted them. So to the feet, the knees, the elbows, the head, the ears, the neck, etc. God designed our bodies and put everything exactly where He wanted them.

But Paul isn’t really talking about bodies is he? No. He’s actually talking about congregations. How easy it is to get bogged down because I think someone else does something better than me. How easy it is to think I don’t really belong. Not so. I don’t have to despair that I’m useless in Christ’s church. God has placed me in the body exactly where He wants me. There is something I’m uniquely suited to do within this body that is necessary and important.

I can have joy today knowing God has me where He wants me to accomplish something that I can do. He is not interested in me accomplishing what I can’t. He is not interested in me accomplishing what you can do (necessarily). He has put me here to accomplish what He has made me to do. Instead of quiting, giving up, or despairing because of comparisons, I can glorify God by doing what I can and knowing God has me here to do just that.

Praise God for His confidence in me.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Ephesians 5:1-6:24.

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Church. To some that word carries amazing baggage. Boring. Irrelevant. Useless. When they hear the word, they think of buildings or ritualistic services. But that is not what Paul is talking about. How could I want to be anywhere but in Christ’s church. The church is the group of people that Jesus died for. The church is the group of people Jesus purchased with His blood. The church is the group of people that He will present to Himself cleansed, washed, holy, without spot, wrinkle, or blemish.

When I understand that is what the church is how can I ever think of it as boring or irrelevant or useless. Christ’s church is awesome and today I’m glad to be part of it.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

PPS. If you’d like to hear more about Christ’s awesome church, come to a special assembly at the Brownsburg Church of Christ in Brownsburg, Indiana on Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 10:30 am. I’ll be sharing the 4 reasons Christ’s church is awesome.

Today’s reading is Mark 3:1-4:40.

This last week goes to show that even the guy running the blog can struggle with a daily habit now and then. Hopefully I can lead by example on this. As I’ve said, if you get behind, don’t worry. Just pick back up and move forward. That’s what we’ll do here. 

I’ve read the story of Jesus accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul numerous times. But it hit me just a tad different today (I’m sure you get tired of me saying that, however, that is why we keep reading the Bible, because it will hit us differently as we keep reading). When Jesus was accused, He responded, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if  house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

How often have I talked about this verse and how destructive to Satan’s cause it would be if his kingdom were divided against itself. But what about God’s kingdom? What about us? What happens when we are divided against ourselves?

First, I understand divisions will come. I Corinthians 11:18 demonstrates even Paul knew that would happen. Additionally, I understand there is a time when discipline should take place, thus dividing someone from the body (I Corinthians 5:1-13). Further, I understand there is a time to so stand for the truth that those who do not want to accept the truth leave. I John 2:19 shows that very thing happening.

However, even recognizing all that, I can’t help but worry about what Jesus’ statement about Satan and his kingdom means for us Christians today. If we are constantly dividing, God’s kingdom won’t stand. Certainly, I understand in the sense that God’s power upholds His kingdom it will stand. I’m referring to the very practical working of His church on earth. If we are constantly breaking up and dividing we are going to shoot ourselves in the foot. As Galatians 5:15 says, “If you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”

The point I’m driving out is the almost morbid sense of division I see among too many Christians. I know we need to be on our guard (cf. Acts 20:29-30), but it almost seems that some have taken this to be the supreme command of all Scripture. It is as if their number one concern over all things is to root out all error that anyone might hold, to latch on to any tiny little mistake an eldership might make, to fear monger about every potential problem that arises, and then to clamor for more division. The problem is who will be left when this is our approach. Since we even know our own sins, we’d have to divide off from ourselves. 

This reminds me of Romans 14:19, which we highlighted a few weeks ago while reading Romans. “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”

Is there a place for division? Of course there is. But let’s not act like it is the first option the moment we see a problem. Let’s get rid of this idea that the moment something goes wrong we question, “How long do I stay?” Let’s pursue what makes for peace and upbuilding and not what will simply divide the kingdom making it lose its effectiveness in the world.

***Question: How do you pursue peace and upbuilding even when it is tough?

Keep the faith and keep reading.

ELC

Today’s reading is Ephesians 3:1-4:32.

Ephesians 3:10 caught my attention today. It says, “So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” 

Sadly, in times past, people have placed so much emphasis on “the church” that hierarchies and denominational error became the mainstay because “the church” was the key. Thus we have some who believe that “the church” is without error and is the deciding factor on every key issue. Of course, that usually means through its elected or representative bodies (something which the New Testament knows nothing). The church is the deciding factor for what is right and wrong for those with this view. 

Gratefully, many have come past that. They recognize that the New Testament is far more a book telling us how to live as individual Christians and members of the church than telling us simply about the church as a whole. However, it seems folks easily ride the pendulum to far the other way. When the mantra becomes preach the Christ not the church, we are missing something. Ephesians 3:10 says the church should be preached. It is not just through Christ but also through the church that the manifold wisdom of God is demonstrated to all, including the rulers and authorities in heavenly places. Don’t water this down. This isn’t speaking about the individual lives of the individual church members. No, it is through the collective that God’s wisdom is demonstrated.

The point is we need to understand balance. We don’t need to so emphasize the church that it becomes some iconic organization and goes beyond what Scripture establishes. At the same time, we must not so degrade the church as if it make it nothing more than a necessary evil way of describing the group of individual Christians. 

The church is important. As Ephesians 5:25-33 will demonstrate in tomorrow’s reading, Jesus did die for Christians as individuals. He died for His church. He redeems His church. He washes His church. He will present His church as holy and blameless to God. We need to be in His church.

***Question: Why do you think so many are getting fed up with the concept of “the church” that they are making Christianity such an individualistic religion? Or are they? Am I missing it on this?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

According to Revelation 7:9, the people of God in heaven, gathered around the throne, come from every nation, tribe people and language. That means there are Americans, Europeans, Arabians, Indians, Hispanics, Africans, Australians, Russians, Chinese, Japanese, Germans, etc. They all gather around the throne without notice of their differences. They do not argue over politics. They do not argue about heritage. They do not ridicule color, language or culture. They simply gather in unity to honor the God of heaven and the Lamb. 

That is what it looks like in heaven.

Why doesn’t it look like that in my home congregation? I obviously recognize if there is a language barrier the people may not be able to come together in the same congregation (cf. I Corinthians 14:13-15, 27-28). But, I can’t help questioning why are there black churches and white churches? Pockets of foreigners move into the country. They learn the language, but they still assemble with their “own people.” When will our own people simply be the people of God no matter nation, tribe, people or language?

When will our congregations look more like heaven?

I know some congregations are doing a great job with this issue. If you are part of one of those, that is awesome. Continue being an example for the rest of us. The majority of congregations, however, need some work here. I’m not talking about “affirmative action.” I’m just talking about getting the message out beyond the lines of people who look just like us.

I once heard a white brother say he was all for teaching a black man and bringing him into the congregation if the opportunity arose, but he didn’t think we needed to just make that our goal. If you have that thought, let me simply remind you of Acts 11:19-20. There were some people that spoke only to Jews. There were others that specifically made it their goal to speak to Gentiles. Maybe it is not so bad to make it our specific goal to get some diversity in a congregation. And yes, before some wounded white person trying to salve his conscience says it, I know this goes both ways. 

Let’s quit working on having congregations that look like our culture and start working for congregations that look like heaven.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC