The Church – God's Living Home

SUB-THEME: Immanuel in the Community

TOPIC: The Church – God's Living Home

TEXT: Ephesians 2:19–22

The human body has many parts, such as the hands, feet, eyes, and so on. In the same way, the Body of Christ, which is the Church, is made up of many members who are interdependent. However, the Church possesses certain unique characteristics following its establishment after the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven.

The Church is much like a rehabilitation centre where the human race has been given access to the relationship that God originally designed us to have with Him. Furthermore, from the great prayer of Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:9, He taught His disciples to begin with these two significant words: "Our Father." From this, we learn that God is our Father. This portrays our acceptance by God in a vertical relationship. Likewise, the word "our" shows that we belong to one family together with many others. Our acceptance becomes effective horizontally when we discover and faithfully fulfil our place within the family of God.

In order to bring about this necessary transformation, Jesus Christ gave some to be Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, and others, so that our corporate identity as the Body of Christ might become a reality. We do not become part of the Church merely to develop our own spiritual lives or to enjoy a form of spiritual retirement. Rather, we become part of the Church so that Christ may be revealed in our lives and so that the Body of Christ may be built up into full maturity.

Furthermore, we are to cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, echoing the desire expressed in Scripture: "That I may know Him." This requires our total surrender to Him, so that we no longer seek anything for ourselves alone but live wholeheartedly for His glory and for the good of His people.

Prayer:

Our Father, make me a more effective disciple of Jesus Christ in Your Church. Enable me to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit fully and to demonstrate genuine love towards all my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to win more souls into Your Kingdom each day. In Jesus' name, Amen.