Whatever secondary benefits there may be to membership in a local congregation, the main one is spiritual growth. We always need to be asking: are we helping one another to grow toward maturity in Christ? If not, some adjustments need to be made.
The knowledge of God comes through the truth about Himself that God has revealed in the Scriptures. There is no knowing God without taking into our hearts the words of the Scriptures. To know God, we must learn what the Scriptures say about Him.
There is no greater foolishness than to ignore God — and no greater wisdom than to properly worship Him. We are glorious creatures made in the very image of God. Let’s not only recognize that fact but be exceedingly thankful for it.
Moses prayed for the people of Israel, “Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!” We are wise if we seriously consider the end of life. Quality lives are the result of a definite choice we make.
There is no fellowship with God, even after we obey the gospel of Christ, if we do not live, or “walk,” according to God’s will. John said, “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
Paul wrote, “We make it our aim to please him” (2 Cor. 5:9). To have lived so that we receive God’s favor, standing before Him “approved” and with “no need to be ashamed” (2 Tim. 2:15), will be a joyous privilege for those who have served faithfully.
When we might make excuses and quibble about what we can’t do, God asks us to trust His assurance that whatever needs to be done can be done through Christ, the One who has promised to strengthen us. That thought will be our meditation this week.
We influence others privately when we live as we should, but we also sound forth God’s word publicly by our congregational worship and Bible study. We ought not to underestimate the power of our congregational assemblies to spread the gospel.
It is a privilege to be delivered from our sins. Whatever difficulties may be involved, those are a small price to pay for the freedom and joy that await us at the end of the journey. Our afflictions are a “light momentary affliction” (2 Cor. 4:17).
We ought to sow the seed of the kingdom as generously and enthusiastically as we can. There isn’t a more worthy work that we could do in this world, and if doing that work is our honest goal, God will see that we have the opportunity to be involved.
