People Of God (Rise Up)

People of God – Devotional

John 3:16-17, Romans 12:4-5, Hebrews 10:24-25

I’ve had the miraculous and unique opportunity of growing up in the church my whole life. I was raised by parents that are in ministry and have a genuine love for the Lord and for others. And the older I get, the more I realize how rare that really is. It is such a blessing that I pray for my kids, that their testimony would be similar to mine. The church, full of all her beauty, scars, and imperfections, has been such a gift. It’s been hard, but its been so good.

But amidst growing up, and serving in, the church, I, like so many others, have often questioned how we go about doing things. Is this really how we were meant to be defined? Large stages, Sunday morning gatherings, week night smaller gatherings, big buildings, loud music, attention grabbing sermons, etc. Then Covid hit, and for a season, so many of us could not gather face to face. And I think it changed everything.

Why? Because we were forced to longer “go” to church, but rather to “be” the church. We opened up our homes again. We called members of our community to check on them. We shared with those in need. We prayed for each other. We cared for the sick. We got to know our neighbors again. We didn’t go to church, we were the church. And I think in a season of quarantine, at least my little faith community, looked a little bit more like the early church in Acts 2 than we did before —

“And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 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.” -Acts 2:45-47
So whether your church seats thousands, or you’re a part-time pastor setting out and picking up a few chairs in your local YMCA every Sunday morning, the goal is the same — To tell of and live out the Gospel. To go and make disciples. And the longer I’m in it, the more I’m convinced the former is no greater than the latter. The big is no better than the small, and vice versa. The Lord is pleased with and uses them both.

Hebrews 10:24-25 command us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Just as the church did in Acts 2, and just as we were forced to do in early 2020 amidst a global pandemic, let’s rise up. Let’s be the church. Let’s share not only the Gospel of God, but our lives as well (1 Thessalonians 2:8).