God and Me: Devotions from Time of Graceنموونە

God and My Church

Can I make a confession? I need my church the way A.A. attenders need their meetings. God's primary relationship with people is with us as individuals, to be sure. But he has enormous blessings to give us through our spiritual family, and I crave 'em all.

Through our congregation we are taught, baptized, nourished with the Supper, counseled, encouraged, invited to serve, and held accountable. Through our church our circle of friends is multiplied greatly. Through our church Satan finds it much harder to confuse and manipulate us. Through our church we can reach out with the gospel much more effectively and on a much wider scale.

The best part is worship together. Listen to the plurals: "Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care" (Psalm 95:6,7). In a group setting, it almost seems as if faith is contagious. I am lifted up by the singers, heartened by the faith testimony of others, drawn into the prayers, glad for a sympathetic ear and hug in my troubles, and built up by gifted teachers of God's Word. On top of all that, God smiles as his name is lifted up in praise.

There is heavenly magic in God's house every week.