Articles
God's Family
OUR LITTLE CHURCH
There is a little church on the corner
that is called “the church of Christ’
where we study the Bible and worship
twice on Sundays, and every Wednesday night.
It’s just a simple little building
with no painted windows, and has no steeple.
It welcomes with love, all those who enter
while reaching out to the world and it’s people
I had been searching for such a long time
for just the right place to meet,
a place where I could study and worship
and all the time - it was just across the street.
I know that I am very unworthy
of God’s love, so wonderful and gracious.
I learn more as I study His holy word
how great His love is, and how very precious.
I am so thankful for our congregation,
our leaders, and God’s love that we share.
I am thankful for the many blessings
that I receive, as I worship there.
I am also very thankful for Jesus my Savior.
I feel His presence as I walk through the door.
He is always there waiting to save lost souls
and give eternal life for evermore.
Barbara Vogel
GOD’S FAMILY
The poem on the front page of this week’s bulletin was recently written by Barbara Vogel who was baptized into Christ on June 25, 2013. Her story has been repeated thousands of times and in many places throughout the world (except for the fact that her house sits right across the street from the building where we are assembled to worship). It is a story that started in the city of Jerusalem over two thousand years ago shortly after Jesus’ ascension back to Heaven having previously been put to death on a cross and then raised back to life on the third day. (Acts 2:22-24, 36) It was in that city that the gospel began to be preached, and “...those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” (vs. 41) And so, “...the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (vs. 47)
In those early days of the church, those who were being added to it were assembling outside of the temple, and it is said that “...they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.” (Acts 5:12b-13) This reminds me of Barbara’s story, except, in this case, those who were also in Solomon’s Porch (for whatever reason) dared not to join them. It was as though these people were “right across the street” from the church building - but they didn’t seek to join them, in spite of the fact that they had a lot of respect for them (esteeming them highly). But why?
Perhaps they were afraid. Earlier, while Jesus was alive, before His ascension back to Heaven, He taught people in the city of Jerusalem, confirming His words by miracles which He performed. “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him....Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.” (Jn. 12:37, 42) They were afraid of the humiliation of being rejected and cast out by their own religions leaders. It was not popular at that time to be a follower of Jesus. And today, it’s still not popular to follow Him. Many people today, just like those in Jerusalem who stood back and watched, are still afraid to come out of their religious error to be joined to Christ with those who follow Him. Often, the same thing that held those people back is the same thing that holds people back today; “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (vs. 43) If you substitute the word “approval” for the word “praise” it becomes much clearer to each of us that we all want to have the approval of others. Yet Paul said, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (or rightly handling the word of truth, rsv)
Our goal should be to seek God’s approval rather than man’s. When we do this it is a liberating experience. Peer pressure loses its pull when our greatest joy is to please God rather than man. This is why we, as the Lord’s church, spend much time together studying and learning what God’s word teaches. We rely only on His word as the basis of His approval in all that we do because, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17) We serve a loving God who cares for us, and His invitation is still the same as when Jesus spoke these words; “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Mt. 11: 28-30) Like Paul, we too are “...not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes...” (Rom. 1:16) That’s why we are intent on preaching and teaching only His word as our final authority - without human opinion - without human creeds - and without being answerable to any religious hierarchy short of the throne of God.
Now, here we are some 2,000 years later, privileged to be a part of that which began on that Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2. What Paul wrote about the church (some 30 years later), can also now be said about us here at Zephyrhills. He said, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” (Eph. 2:19- 21) Notice Paul’s analogy of a building, referring to the church as a spiritual structure in which each person who is a member of it is fitted together. We also notice the analogy of a kingdom as he refers to us as fellow citizens under the rule of Christ our King. But Paul makes another analogy that is especial close to our hearts as he describes the church as a household.
We, as the church in Zephyrhills, are a family. We are part of the household of God. God’s family. Our relationship to one another is aptly described by Paul when he says, “...we are members of one another.” (Eph. 4:25b) And the reason this is so is because we share a common bond with Jesus Christ. That bond is due to God the Father’s eternal plan for our redemption through the sacrificial blood of His Son. He called this process an adoption; “...He (God the Father, gvw) chose us in Him (Jesus Christ, His Son, gvw) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself (to God the Father, gvw), according to the good pleasure of His will.” (Eph. 1:4-5) God didn’t choose (or predestine) each of us by name, but rather, He chose how He would redeem us to Himself - by adopting us with the purchase price of His Son’s blood. (see Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23)
What Barbara Vogel saw from her window across the street was more than a building with a sign that says “church of Christ.” She saw a family (of which she is now a part) that is “of Christ” who cares for one another and who loves one another as brothers and sisters - who love Christ who bought us so the Father could adopt us into His family. We are no longer “strangers and foreigners” - but a family of adopted children into which Jesus still invites, saying, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden...”
- Gary V. Womack -
- Gods Family 2.doc (39.42 kB)
