Issue 1212 – Not What you think – August 3, 2023
There is a term many Christians in North America use, and I am confident that we all have heard it. That phrase is, “I have a personal relationship with Jesus.”
In a sense, that statement is true. Each believer has their own relationship with Jesus. He knows us, has called us, saved us and indwells us. We all start on our Jesus Journey at a different place, with individual baggage and gifts.
There are commonalities with other believers, to be sure. We were all sinners and hopeless without the intervention of Christ. Each of us is on a path to holiness.
Yet, this personal relationship is often misunderstood. Many people think and act as if it means that it is a private secret relationship with God. Nothing could be further from the truth. We were created to magnify God and let His light shine.
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16
We can take this personal relationship to mean that we don’t need the church. That lie is straight from the pit of hell and smells like smoke. Believers are the church. We need the body, and it needs us.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27
The truth is that our faith walk is at once personal and corporate. Our God-given role exceeds what we can keep inside and private. It is designed to be shared.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 2 Corinthians 5:20
The fellowship of believers is designed to help shape us into the image of Christ and to serve Him. When we are missing, that doesn’t happen properly.
Our role is to grow both individually and corporately so that others may know the truth and join us. We are all ambassadors for Christ, like it or not. The only question is do we represent our King well or poorly.
Yes, Jesus loves you individually and just as you are. But the fuller truth is that He loves you too much to leave you unchanged. Trust and obey. Serve Him with love and gratitude.
Put away those thoughts that you can be a “secret” or “solo” Christian. Get involved in a Bible-believing local church. I don’t mean just attending; you attend regularly and exercise your gifts and talents to serve there.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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