Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. John 15:20-21
Praise be to the Lord for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege. Psalm 31:21
One of my church pastors provided me with not only an “ah ha” moment a few weeks ago during his sermon on Philippians but also a “duh” revelation. Here’s what he said, “We have to remember the letters written by Paul to the churches were not written to individuals but to the church body as whole.” As readers and students of scripture we can get caught up thinking a verse was speaking directly to me and my life.
It’s an important change of perspective, especially these days when folks who call themselves Christians promote the idea that we don’t need to go to church. Or we can just do church by watching it on TV. Not only are we directed in scripture to be part of a body of believers we are also to actively participate in that community.
But why? Let’s first look at what happened to those of us who lived in areas where our churches were shut down during COVID — some for two years. People became disconnected, dispirited, lonely and worse. Be completely honest, watching someone on TV preach the Word is not the same as being in the same room with other believers. We get distracted, make a snack, check our phones, etc. Instead of exiting the doors and talking with those who just listened to a powerful message. Sharing our questions, our revelations, or how the message truly lifted us.
When we don’t have that community, we also don’t have the support to sustain us when trouble hits. Standing in the face of trials even when it seems almost unbearable. We don’t have the ability to look around at all the faces of those who know and love Jesus like we do.
God provides every opportunity to help us when darkness wants to have its hand on our lives. When the world calls us crazy, we can stand firm and announce, “there’s quite a few of us crazies and we celebrate our God and Savior every week across the world!”
Just like we can forget the epistles were written to bodies of people, we can also forget every word written to encourage and support them was done so because they were facing trials –greater than any westernized church today. If they could stand while facing death for even meeting, for proclaiming that Jesus is King, then we can stand too. Let’s do it in community, together.
Click here to listen to today’s song: Stand
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