A Church Home for Christmas
Many years ago, I was reading a copy of a New Testament someone had given me. When I read the third chapter of the Gospel of John, I was convicted of my sins and turned my life over to the Lord. Following this life-changing experience, one of the first things I did was look for a good church where the Bible was taught. I found that church, and what a blessing it was. I attended every time the doors were open for the teaching of the Word of God. I couldn’t get enough of God’s Word.
The church gave me what I could not get any other place. It increased my concern for other people and the important values of life. I can’t imagine where I would be or what I would be like today were it not for all the benefits I received from the church.
My heart goes out to many thousands of people who are too busy, unconcerned, or disinterested to attend church. I am not saying that church is a cure-all that will solve all our problems and remove all our cares, but it goes a long way in alleviating our anxieties and cares.
Byron Hatfield wrote about his church:
To keep a sky in my life, and to look up.
To keep my hand in God’s, and to hold on to Him.
To see the eternal values above the material.
To lift life above self to service for Christ.
To see the good in others and praise it.
To keep sweet and to keep busy for Him.
To have a seeing eye, a feeling heart, a helping hand.
To test the motive of life and choose the best.
To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
I hope you have these same feelings as the result of your church experience.
A good Bible teaching church is a voice for God. There is not one of us who will fail to benefit from the sound teaching of the Word of God. Of course, there are other places you can get Bible teaching, along with studying the Word in your own privacy, but a good church is usually equipped to do the job well. In fact, that is probably the most important reason for its existence.
Keep in mind as I write about the church, I am not thinking primarily of a building. I am thinking of people. A Christian tells of a photograph he saw of people leaving a church after a service. They were carrying Bibles and appeared to be content. Our friend remarked, “As I looked at those men, women, and children, I thought, there goes the church. The building will stay and it will be referred to as a church. But those bricks can’t preach and those pews can’t witness. Only people can do that.”
R.C. Sproul has written, “Where the people of God are, there is the church, under the lordship of Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.” This seems to me to be what Jesus had in mind when He commissioned his disciples before He ascended into heaven. He promised power through the Holy Spirit. And then He said they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). When the church of Jerusalem came under persecution in the first century, that’s what happened. God’s people were scattered and proclaimed the Gospel wherever they went.
When believers in Jesus Christ leave a worship service, the building stays, but God’s people, the true church, enter the community for service. Throughout the week they continue to be the church wherever they are in shops, universities, restaurants, and their homes. People have their clubs, their lodges, and their fellowships. But the church, the Body of Christ, is the greatest fellowship in all the world. There you will not meet perfect people but people forgiven through the blood of Christ. These people have experienced the love of Christ as evidenced by love for each other. There isn’t an organization in the world that has the same camaraderie which God’s people have. That’s why I’ve spent the greater part of my life trying to get people to attend church, unite with the fellowship of the body of Christ, and discover the true blessedness of happy living. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25
I don’t think the purpose of the church could be stated better than what I saw printed in a church bulletin many years ago:
“To all who mourn and need comfort, to all who are friendless and need friendship, to all who are homeless and need sheltering love, to all who pray and to all who do not but should, to all who sin and need a Savior, this church opens wide its doors and makes free a place, and in the name of Jesus the Lord says, ‘Welcome.’”
That, in an excellent way, describes the true church of God.
If you are not already in a church or for some reason are dissatisfied with the one you are attending, seek out a true Bible teaching church and be faithful in attendance. I assure you, merely walking through the church doors will not change you. But what you will hear from the pulpit, as well as what you will receive by way of encouragement from other God fearing people, will affect you. Give yourself or your family a Bible teaching church home for Christmas. Hearing God's Word taught, with sincerity, will go a long way in making each of you what God wants you to be.
If you have never received Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you should do that now. Church won’t mean much without Christ in your life. Wherever you are, you can bow your head and say, Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin. I want to turn from sin to follow you. I now receive you as my Savior and Lord. Jesus will enter your life, never to leave. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9, 10). You don’t have to give anything or do anything. Just receive God’s Son who died on the cross for you. You will be ever grateful.
J. Allen Blair
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REFLECTIONS with Dr. Blair
In my quiet time recently I read Psalm 40:3. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. My thoughts drifted back over the years to New Year’s Eve, 1934. I was reading the Gospel of John, and while reading chapter 3, I was convicted of my miserable lifestyle. So, I knelt by my beside and prayed that I might receive a new life in Christ. What a wonderful experience that was. God answered my prayer, and Psalm 40:3 became a reality in my life. The Lord put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. I have never lost that song. What a joy it has been to know Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord all the many years since. He proved Himself faithful again and again. Even though I have failed Him at times, He never failed me. He has guided me, provided for me, and met every need of my life. I am glad to say He can do the same for you, if you will claim Him as your Savior and Lord, and then, follow Him.
The Best Christmas Gift
Salvation is not a stand-alone entity. Along with salvation comes a great responsibility. Just as we have been rescued, it is our responsibility to tell others about this great salvation (Heb. 2:3)
Dr. Blair says the way to begin is to simply tell someone what happened to you when you placed your faith in Jesus Christ. The message in print, free to you, is titled, Be A Witness for God. It will encourage you to share this great salvation which we enjoy! Write for a free copy and we'll send it right away.