Did you know that you can help people SEE God? No one has actually seen God, though Moses came close. Looking God in the face as a human results in death. Yet God knew we need to “see” Him.
We’re to live by faith, but we’re human, and since God created us, He knows we need something tangible to place our faith in. Through John, He gives us a way.
Seems simple enough, love each other. When we who are believers love each other with unselfish concern, the love that is God (see 1 John 4:8) lives in us is seen fully in us. Whoa! The first century church did this well and grew exponentially, spreading far and wide as people who hadn’t know God saw the love that is God and wanted in on it.
Throughout the years, though, something changed. Faith became religion and love among the brethren was lost. Divisions came along and now? The people of faith are known more for what they hate. That is completely counter to what Jesus told us to be and do.
Fortunately, there are pastors and leaders who are noting this and are reaching across denominational (division) lines to love one another. There are church websites that share the locations of the churches nearby for those who are looking for a place to visit, but they’re not really sure what they’re looking for. The church with the website is not threatened by the churches nearby, they are energized that the gospel is being preached.
When we read the New Testament, we don’t see denominations. The only division between churches was geographical. And if you read much of Paul’s writings, you’ll see him say “the church that meets at …” reminding us that the church isn’t the GPS location, it is the people.
The thing is, the pastor and the webmaster can’t do it all. They can lead the charge to love believers who meet in all the buildings, but it’s up to us who make up this community of believers or that, to stop seeing the people who meet over there as our competition. They are not.
Our only competition is the enemy of all souls —
and that is not the other churches in the area.
It’s time we love and support all believers, here and around the world. Is the church down the street having an event? Go to it! At least let others know about it! Are *they* doing a recovery ministry? You don’t have to start one, join theirs!
If we are honest about wanting to help others see God so they can enter a relationship with Him through Jesus’ offered salvation, we had better get to loving each other well, Believer. Souls are on the line.
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
