Resilience — Strength - Friday
TODAY’S VERSE
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (ESV)
In this season of life, I’ve been spending a fair amount of time reflecting on my daughter’s perspective on the “Big C” Church. It’s still fairly limited considering she’s only four, and Southland has been her church home since birth. But she’s also visited other churches with me and my wife, including a church plant that met in a movie theater, two other churches in a more traditional setting, and another local church for Vacation Bible School.
What’s been interesting to observe is the connection she’s starting to make with some of the primary elements of a church gathering, regardless of the expression in a different context. Usually, it sounds something like this: “We sing that song at our church!” “They pray in church like we do!” “We had the same lesson about Jesus like my class at our church!” “They have communion like we do!”
Sounds a lot like the first-century Church (Acts 2:42). But here’s what convicted me: If a preschooler is better about seeing unity in the Church than we are as adults, maybe we should stop majoring in the minors and splitting hairs over non-essential issues. There are bigger and better hills to die on.
This reminds me of a book I was reading a couple of years ago about the beauty and glory of the Church. In the introduction, the author shared a thought-provoking quote from Charles Spurgeon:
“Nothing in this world is dearer to God’s heart than his church; therefore, being his, let us also belong to it, that by our prayers, our gifts, and our labors, we may support it and strengthen it.”
As I read Spurgeon’s words, the image I have in mind is the scene from Acts 4:23-31. My hope and prayer is that when we think of the Church, it evokes a similar sense of affection and commitment. Church isn’t just something we do; the Church is who we’re called to be.
In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul refers to the Church as the “body of Christ” and provides an illustration where he mentions the words member, part, and body over 30 times. The members or parts of the body are different (physically and spiritually speaking), but each member has a vital role to play—including you!
As Carl concluded on Sunday, resilient strength is formed in the Church. And here’s the beauty in this: As the Church strengthens us, we strengthen it. But that’s only possible if we take Spurgeon’s words to heart.
Belong to it. Support it. Strengthen it.
APPLICATION
What’s the next step you need to take to become a more resilient follower of Jesus? We want to help! Check out our webpage at southland.church/nextsteps to start the conversation.
PRAYER
God, thank You for the Church, in all its beauty and brokenness. You could have chosen any other means to advance the gospel, and yet You allow us to play a small role in Your greater redemptive story. It’s because of the resilience and sacrifices of the men and women who’ve gone before us that we’re able to proclaim Your grace and Your truth today. Strengthen us as we strengthen Your Church. In Jesus’ name… Amen.