Called to Love
It’s February, so that means love is in the air and on everyone’s minds. Over the past couple of days of my Bible reading, the phrase “unfailing love” has jumped out at me in different scriptures. It was noted this phrase refers to the Hebrew word expressing the deeply significant, loyal love of God. I love that expression! It speaks to me of steadfast involvement, which then makes me realize it’s how we can love the church. So, what are practical ways we can love our church?
We can love our church through commitment. Scripture tells us collectively this looks like our Sunday morning gatherings of worship and learning (Hebrews 5:25; Col 3:16; Acts 2:42) and the giving of our tithes (Proverbs 3:9). Commitment is further developed through relationships that can start with as little as a smile and having the bravery to turn and greet your seat neighbors. Those relationships deepen through various opportunities offered - like joining a Champion Group. The commitment begins with Sunday mornings, and relationships bind us together and sharpen us in our walk with Christ (Proverbs 27:17).
We can love our church through the giving of our time. We are all given gifts to be used to serve one another (1 Peter 4:10). What does that look like for you? There are so many different areas to serve at Champion—an active, thriving church needs lots of helping hands on Sunday mornings! Maybe your heart is for the community, so check the announcements for ways to be involved in an outreach or the Awaken women’s ministry. There is nothing too small or insignificant to be offered up to serve one another.
My final thought on how we can practically love our church is through encouragement. Some of us may have this gifting that pours out, but we all have the Holy Spirit within us, who is Himself an encourager. Keeping our pastors and fellow church members in prayers is a wonderful way to build up others! Be warm and inviting to those we come across at church, whether it’s their first time or they have been there for a while. The goal is to build one another up (I Thes 5:11) to do the work God had uniquely given to each of us!
Christ has imparted a boldness upon us that we can use to move our love for Him to include the people surrounding us at Champion. Being rooted in a family of God, which pushes us to grow and mature as believers, helps us to be powerful witnesses and displays the unfailing love of Christ that will reach the one and change the world!