Godly Purpose, Part 2

First published October 21, 2009

Acts 2:46-47
And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
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Very recently Jeff and I were watching Family Feud, the long running television game show featuring two families each vying to win by guessing the top responses to various polled questions. Host John O’Hurley asked, “100 Americans were polled, top answers on the board, at what place would you expected to be treated nicely?” “Bling!” The “feuding” began. Well, this was a short round. Only one answer got revealed, “at a restaurant.” All the answers yielded a small percentage of the respondents, except for the top answer. “At a church.” I was so stunned I almost fell off the couch. How could I have not guessed this question right? It’s so obvious. And it’s so expected. But, why didn’t I choose the top answer? Now I was embarrassed and ashamed. Why would I, a Christian doubt that people are nice at church?

I committed this concern to prayer for several weeks, trying not to worry about it when it hit me. It matters not what Man wants, it matters what God wants. Did God want me to be nice? I couldn’t find it in my Bible. And that was because I was looking from the outside in. What was the equivalent of nice from the inside out? Now it was obvious. Kindness was the answer. Firstly, in your heart you are kind, and then outwardly you are kind. And thus others see that you are genuinely nice.

Maybe this is not an issue for you personally. You are a kind, caring person. But as a church body, collectively, believers need to be of one mind in this. The “sincerity of heart” in a church is something that can easily be transparent. But, as individuals we can make a difference in the corporate body of Christ. Lay this at the feet of Jesus in prayer. Talk with your Sunday school teachers and church leaders about your concern. And pray some more.

From the inside out believers can make the world realize they had a Godly Purpose in and through the Church.
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Dear Lord, we cannot stop thanking you for the purpose you have for the Church. Please help each of us to grow from within, together being of one mind, and culminating in lives being saved. Jesus, I ask this through you. Amen.

Copyright 2009, Karen Vaughn

Godly Purpose, Part 1

First published October 19, 2009

Acts 2:46-47
And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
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I recently heard a friend say that he no longer attends church because he led the same life without going to church. There was not purpose in it. Ouch! It hurt even more when I asked myself, “Do I really know what the purpose of the Church is?” I had to be reminded.

First of all, the Church was established by Christ who said in Matthew 16:18, “And I also say that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.” Knowing this makes Jesus Christ the center and focus of its purpose.

It exists to bear witness through the ages of the compassion of God upon His created man through His Son. Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 10:27, “What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.” And before ascending into heaven he said to the eleven in Matthew 27:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The book of Acts is so important in helping us understand the early church. Notice that the zeal of the apostles seemed unending, as they spread the gospel throughout the known region. As part of the model, we see that apart from his encounter with the appearance of the Lord, Paul’s conversion involved another person, Ananias in Act Chapter 9. And although Paul was a zealous “brainiac”, he attended gatherings of the believers regularly. He did this for the purpose of learning (1 Corinthians 14:26), teaching (Acts 17:19), preaching (Acts 20:20), worshiping (Acts 13:2), and fellowship (Acts 2:42).

This great Godly Purpose had tremendous results: “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.” (Acts 9:31)

Now woven all together, the Church created by Christ for Man, is spectacular evidence of our Creator’s love for us. How more “Wow!” can this get?

Amen.

Copyright 2009, Karen Vaughn