HAVE YOU BEEN WOUNDED IN CHURCH (2)
"I will build my church." Matthew 16:18
Author Sherry Surratt notes that when Jesus promised to build His church, "[he] wasn't just talking about the bricks or wood that form a...building, but he was talking about building his church of...ordinary, human people who are imperfect...broken and [who] bring their messy lives...with them every time they walk through the door. This is what Christ died for...He died for people...for his church...a group of people, led by people, and not a single one of us is perfect. We're a broken bunch who hopefully recognizes our brokenness and acknowledges that Jesus is the only fix...No matter how long we've been in church, we never reach perfection...we'll have to work at it every day. We'll come face-to-face with our human side every morning when we wake up, and...when we do, we'll bump up against each other and we'll get hurt. Our natural tendency is to steer clear of what hurts us...So when we encounter gossip aimed at us or witness hatred or hypocrisy in our fellow churchgoers or even our pastors, it's natural to think about walking away. But to do this is to separate ourselves from something that God built for us to use for our good...The Bible never says other people aren't going to wound [us]...What [it] does teach...is that it doesn't help to just sit in hurt and feel sorry for [ourselves] (See Matthew 5:24). God's Word warns [us] not to let bitterness set in (See Hebrews 12:15). This has nothing to do with pretending something didn't happen. It has everything to do with being honest...admitting when our spirit is crushed and leaving revenge in the hands of God."
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today
Author Sherry Surratt notes that when Jesus promised to build His church, "[he] wasn't just talking about the bricks or wood that form a...building, but he was talking about building his church of...ordinary, human people who are imperfect...broken and [who] bring their messy lives...with them every time they walk through the door. This is what Christ died for...He died for people...for his church...a group of people, led by people, and not a single one of us is perfect. We're a broken bunch who hopefully recognizes our brokenness and acknowledges that Jesus is the only fix...No matter how long we've been in church, we never reach perfection...we'll have to work at it every day. We'll come face-to-face with our human side every morning when we wake up, and...when we do, we'll bump up against each other and we'll get hurt. Our natural tendency is to steer clear of what hurts us...So when we encounter gossip aimed at us or witness hatred or hypocrisy in our fellow churchgoers or even our pastors, it's natural to think about walking away. But to do this is to separate ourselves from something that God built for us to use for our good...The Bible never says other people aren't going to wound [us]...What [it] does teach...is that it doesn't help to just sit in hurt and feel sorry for [ourselves] (See Matthew 5:24). God's Word warns [us] not to let bitterness set in (See Hebrews 12:15). This has nothing to do with pretending something didn't happen. It has everything to do with being honest...admitting when our spirit is crushed and leaving revenge in the hands of God."
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word For You Today
Recent
Archive
2025
January
"Forgiving each other ...as...God forgave you."EMBRACING UNCERTAINITY AND FOLLOWING GODBLESSING IS PROGRESSIVEIS GOD SHAKING YOU UP?PROBLEMS? DRAW CLOSER TO GODDON'T AVOID--ENGAGEYOU ARE COMMANDED TO LOVEJUST SOW THE SEEDSEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (1)SEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (2)PRAY ABOUT IT, THEN TAKE ACTIONTHE IMPORTANCE OF GOD'S WORDTHE LINK BETWEEN DISOBEDIENCE AND STRESSHAVE YOU TALKED TO GOD ABOUT IT?KNOW YOUR PURPOSE, KNOW YOUR PARTNERSHOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANTPARENTING, THE BIBLE WAYHOW TO BUILD YOUR SELF-ESTEEMSIGNS FOLLOW FAITHWORSHIP: GIVING YOURSELF TO GODCHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS, AND CHANGE YOUR LIFEFind Prayer PartnersHOW GOD SEES YOUBE GUIDED BY WISDOM, NOT IMPULSEHOW TO GIVEPAUSE AND REFLECTWHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (1)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT MONEY (2)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (3))WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (4)WHAT THE LORD TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (5)SEEKING GOD
February
Practice Saying No To YourselfThe Best Is Yet To ComeThe Grandfather's Mistake Became The Grandson's MiracleHow To Conquer The Fear Of FailingLet's Respect Our DifferencesPass It On To OthersThrow It DownYou Are Called To Be Salt And LightExpect To "Wrestle"Use Your Gifts In Ministry To OthersKeep Trusting GodFear Is The Enemy Of GrowthChange Your RoutineYou Are Not Beyond God's ReachDon't Look At Christians, Look At ChristHave A God PerspectiveGod Uses Damaged PeopleUnderstanding The Word "Imputed"Governed By Christ's Love For UsToday Expect God's FavorGrowth Is About EnlargementKeep Praying And BelievingRefuse To Wear The LabelShake It Off, And Move ForwardWhen Others "Don't Get It"Righteousness Is A Gift, Not A Reward
March
Don't Break, Bounce Back (1)How Long Will You Live?Don't Break, Bounce Back (2)Put Away The Measuring StickKnow When To Let GoUse Your ImaginationConnect, Commit, CommunicateHow God Sees YouRearing Spiritual FruitConsult God On Your Daily To Do ListBorn To Believe (1)Born To Believe (2)Only Jesus Can Satisfy Your Soul"Forgive Them" And Delete ItPut God Between Yourself and the FoeBe True To The ScripturesThe Kids Are Watchcng You (1)The Kids Are Watching You (2)If You're A Leader, Read ThisPrayer and Your RASLearn To Say NoYou Can Learn To LoveAlways Agree With God’s WordGive God All The GloryDon’t Let A Wall Build Up Between YouTo Be Used By GodTell Them While You Still CanYou’re Almost ThereA Ministry Of Tears“Much More” Or “Much Less” (1)
Categories
no categories