If you want passion in your spiritual life and your church what are you doing to encourage growth? Do you go to your local church to get what you need out of it? Or do you go to worship and build other believers up, by giving of your time, resources and yourself? Are you more encouraging or critical?
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 NLT
People over the years have come to believe that the “grass is greener on the other side” when it comes to problems in their church. They feel that if things aren’t going their way or they don’t like what’s happening well the church across town does things better and will welcome them with open arms.
We all know the truth that it isn’t always greener, yet we have convinced ourselves that what we have is so damaged that nothing can be done to fix it. The grass may be greener on the other side, yet it may be artificial grass. No roots and what you see is what you get. Once you get there you may feel fine, but then pull back a seam and realize that under the turf they were no different then the church you left.
All churches are filled with imperfect people with imperfect problems. Every church has people quick to anger, bad decisions being made (in your opinion or otherwise), slow to forgive and broken. No church in itself can meet all you needs as they are imperfect. The one we serve is perfect. The one we go to church to worship is perfect. If he is the focus and driving forces behind your church, then that’s what matters.
Grass grows where it is watered. The grass is greenest when it is maintained. If members of the church (not visitors but regulars) are working to maintain the grass then the other side won’t look invite anymore. Invest in your church? Don’t like something pray about it, support it anyways, ask God to use it despite your view on it.
A church that is growing in Jesus, will show its fruit by having new people coming and people giving their hearts to Jesus.
Are you watering your grass? Or are you complaining about it? Let’s do something.
Jesus, so many of us find it easy to complain. I pray that we start to turn our complaints into action. Let us start build up, maintaining, working and watering our church so that it becomes vibrant and alive. Let us be effective in reaching others for you. The people who are lost matter to you, so they matter to me. Amen
50 Days of Pray 