Just A Thought

Just a Thought

 

It may take a few observations to express how important church life is to me. But please indulge me for just a few minutes.

Arriving at church on Sundays and Wednesdays has become something I anticipate and am thankful for. I find such thoughts help me walk in the Spirit throughout the week. Upon arriving at church, I am greeted by Deacon Tibbs most of the time; there are occasions when he is parking cars and caring for the church’s parking arrangements. But he typically greets with a smile, handshake, and a warm, “How’re you doing, Brother.” Deacon Tibbs can really make you feel important to the Lord and himself simply by his greetings. He and the other greeters literally ‘welcome you.’

When it’s time to pray; I am invited to enter the presence of God and given a prayer sheet. The church is counting on me to talk with God about the needs listed on the prayer sheet. These are items of great concern and some anxiety for several people. I sense my need to pray fervently. When it’s time to give, if it’s not my turn to usher, I typically silently observe that time because I give to CBC online. I also tend to listen carefully to the choir selections not only because they can really sing, but they often sing of a trait or quality about God I needed to be reminded of. As I sit in various locations in the church meetings, I am warmly welcome in those areas and those believers enthusiastically participate in the worship, congregational songs, specials by Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Anita, Brother Nathaniel, and the preaching. My how I have been corrected, inspired, and helped by their commitments to our Lord. They repeatedly provide the right kind of spiritual influence for me.

In Sunday School I am typically encouraged and informed from the Bible to keep living for the glory of God, by Deacon Hartwell. Many times, these same believers strengthen me greatly in the Lord. I love these occasions so much that I must restrain myself from adding my two cents when the class is prompted. This is a feature I cherish deeply in the church’s life as a Bible student.

My favorite part is the preaching of the Word which often follows the music leadership afforded by Brother Pascal. Pastor Baldwin always speaks from the Bible, and he favors expository explanations mingled with preaching that reproves, rebukes, exhorts, with a generous measure of patience and insight. I cannot count the number of times I have been helped from the Bible…. Sometimes I convince myself that my need is an explanation or reason and then I am reminded that what I really need is God. Sometimes I think an answer will solves my problem, but I am reminded what I really need is God. I may even be emphasizing a biblical idea so much that I forget about other equally important Bible concepts but preaching generally fixes that issue.

I know the most important time of all at church is during the invitation. It is a special joy to see people saved, baptized, and added to the church. Saint are also meeting with God in their seats and in the alter at invitation time. Every believer is encouraged to talk with our Lord. It is here that we all realize why we have come to church…it is to meet with our great and glorious God on his terms. The driving purpose in coming is to adjust by becoming more completely a living sacrifice to our Lord and His great will. Church is not church until I meet with my God in the assembly of the upright.

Yes, there will always be people who think too much of themselves and choose being a Pharisee instead of a humble servant. There will always be those who really think people come to see them…. There will always be some visitors and some members among us who just don’t get it. But praise the Lord for genuine saints who really pray for you and you for them, greeters who welcome you from their hearts, food preparers who will delight in feeding you, ushers who are poised to help, deacons who afford meaningful assistance and ministry, nursery workers who take care of your children like their own, members who love good music and cherish deeply solid preaching, a choir that sings for God’s glory, a preacher who proclaims God’s precious Word, and a God who meets with His children as we make ourselves available to him.

I am so thankful for my church family and do not want to take them for granted! They are a wonderful gift from my heavenly Father to me. I know that I am blessed! Yea even uniquely fortunate! I must do more to appreciate their service and sacrifices. I need to do more alongside them as we serve our Lord together.