Sunday has become my favorite day of the week. It’s the day I look forward to being around people I love and doing the things that give me the most fulfillment. I get up in the morning with great expectation and excitement like a child on Christmas morning. I love going to church :). I’ve heard many people say , “I don’t believe in organized religion”; “I can read my own Bible at home” and so on. However, the church is not a building but the body of believers and there’s something so dynamic and special when God’s people come together to worship and praise Him.
I do enjoy going to service to get deeper into the Word but I wouldn’t say that it’s my main motivation for getting up every Sunday morning. There are many other wonderful aspects of church. I love worship. It’s the time we get to bless the Lord for who He is and all that He has done for us. Psalm 95 creates a beautiful illustration: “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In His hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks below him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 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. Wow.
Yes, I can worship at home, alone, but what fun is that? I love coming together with other believers to celebrate His goodness. Matthew 18:20 says, “For when two or more gather in my name, there I am with them.” There is no better feeling than getting lost in His presence during worship, with the lifting up of holy hands in wholly surrender. (Psalm 134:2) When I lift up my hands, I’m surrendering all that I am to Him, confessing my shortcomings and believing in His promises.
My pastor once said that church isn’t just about what you can get out of it but most importantly about what you can give. 1 Corinthians 12 explains that we are the body of Christ with many parts. We all have an important role in the body and have been blessed with different gifts to contribute to furthering God's kingdom. Serving, not only means that I am giving of myself, but I am also gaining so much at the same time. This is a time when I know Jesus is working in me and through me. I love serving at church because I know that I am a part of something that is far bigger and beyond myself. Jesus came to serve, not to be served.
I love serving in children’s ministry because their faith inspires me. They have the kind of faith we’re called to have in Luke 18:17. There is no greater honor than teaching children at an early about God’s unfailing love and that He will never leave nor forsake them. I feel so honored to be able to be a part of solidifying their identity in Christ and speaking destiny into their lives.
Church not only encourages me to step into a deeper relationship with the Lord but also to build meaningful relationships with people in general. To me success is not based on figures or tangible things but based on the success of our relationships. In my opinion, a person who has a great relationship with the Lord, with their family and with people around them live a pretty blessed life.
I feel extremely blessed to be able to do life with my church family. They are some of the most genuine people that I have ever come across and I am so thankful for them. There is an abundance of wisdom within everyone and I appreciate that I am always learning and growing with them. God has shown me time and time again His love for me through them. They cover me in prayer, lift me up when I’m down and rejoice with me when I’m happy.
As a church and as the body, there are many gifts and talents that allow us to do many great things for God’s kingdom when we all come together. There is great diversity, yet we all come together with the same purpose, to fulfill the great commission.
I encourage you, if you haven’t already, to get plugged into your local church. I’m sure you will be a blessing to them and them to you.
Freedom is Here by Hillsong United
Ho Hey by The Lumineers (just because it makes me smile)
Ho Hey by The Lumineers (just because it makes me smile)
This is so true! I think that as humans we have a remarkably short memory because we often forget God's greatness and his sovereignty in our lives--especially when we're busy or facing hard times or both. At at church, however, there are people all around us to remind us about God's greatness. The beauty about attending church is that since we're all on different levels and facing different situations in our walks with God, when one person is down and weary there is another that can lift that person and give them strength and encouragement. It's a spiritual safety net to say the least.
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