There are some believers who have made a stand against the church and decided that they can go it alone. These are what could be called commando Christians. They feel the church is broken and can’t function properly because of the people there. What they are forgetting is that the church is designed for broken people. It is a place where we can build each other up, and disciple one another in the Gospel. It has been said that no man is an Island. Passion is stirred up with other people, we are motivated by other people.
“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:25 NLT
The meeting with other Christians at a church setting is not something man made up. Jesus himself told his disciples to meet the upper room and wait for the Holy Spirit to meet them. The church or temple was instituted by God to the Israelite’s back with King David and finished with King Solomon, and even Moses had the people build a tabernacle as God described for him. The buildings themselves were not holy in any sense. It was who dwelt or is worshipped there that made the building or place important.
We as believers need to fellowship of other believers to strengthen us. Like a fire if a coal is taken out it won’t be long before that coal goes cold, and forgets what it is like to be ablaze in the fire. I am sure that if you take a moment to think back to someone who once walked with Jesus but now isn’t, you can pinpoint when they started missing church and their faith started to dwindle. They left the fire, their passion for Christ dwindled as they stop meeting with others who love him. If we could only bring them back to the fire it may rekindle the coal and bring them back to the saviour.
We can work to encourage these lost brothers and sisters to return. We need to do this in love as the enemy has quickly created a web of lies about the church in the wayward one’s heart. Excuses of hurts and unforgiveness that only Jesus can heal and restore. Isn’t it wonderful that we have a Saviour who loves to restore the broken, hurting and lost? Let’s work today and everyday to encourage, invite and tell others about Jesus.
Jesus, we pray for our brothers and sisters who have left the church and grown cold. They have been hurt or lied to and they won’t step foot in the church and have walked away for you as well. We pray that we can meet them, love them and help them work towards a restored relationship with you and your church. Let them understand that people have hurt them not you. Holy Spirit work in their hearts to restore the love that was once their, a passion for Jesus. They matter to you, so they matter to me. Amen
50 Days of Pray 