There are some days when you’re sitting at church when the message is hard to focus on because you aren’t really sure how it applies to your life. And, there are other days, when you’re sitting there thinking that God might as well be sitting across from you giving the sermon himself. Today was one of those days.
The sermon began with Acts 2:42-47:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Pastor Ross explained that the first verse, has to do with what the apostles did while they were at the church, and the rest of the verses explained what they did as a result of attending church. He said that while those four things; teaching, fellowships, break of bread and prayer are extremely important – we should be looking at the second half of the message. Because the apostles and all of the believers were together, and shared a common faith, church moved outside of the boundaries of four walls and a roof, and became those who practiced teaching, fellowship, communion and prayer. Church was not just a place that they met on Sundays, but was the lifestyle they lived and because of this, “the Lord added to their number daily…”
He went on to say that when people are driving through Big Rapids and they look and see the big “RES LIFE” sign on the side of a warehouse, they shouldn’t think “oh, that’s the church.” Instead, when they see himself, or any other Christian walking down the street, they should think that “that’s the church.”
Why did this message resonate with me so deeply? When I had first posted that I was accepted to the World Race – and after people watched the video and learned what it was about, a lot of my family and friends were surprised. They weren’t surprised that I was willing to leave the country for 11 months – but that I “religious” enough to be a missionary. Some of these people have known me for my entire life, and yet, they were not able to confidently affirm that I was a follower of Christ. The way that I had been living my life did not speak to the girl who is moved to tears by worship songs, or that had a desire to have a intimate relationship with the Lord – let alone the side that would want to teach others about Jesus and his sacrifices. I was not showing my love for Christ Monday-Saturday, only on Sunday mornings if I could get out of bed.
I don’t want there to be a difference in my character Monday-Saturday and Sunday morning. I want everyone to know who I am; a daughter in Christ. I want to walk down the street, and as everyone passes, I want them to think “she’s the church.”
