“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well because you had become so dear to us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8
Unapologetically, Church at the Gate is not a very liturgical church. There are dozens of other churches in town that do liturgy and traditional stuff well. We have a band, use technology, enjoy spontaneity. The Bible is the only book we read from together aloud in a service. But there are a few informal “liturgies” that pop up in our services each week. Like, I’ll say: one of our core convictions at Church at the Gate is that “it is not God’s Will that you go through life…” And when I get to this place, I pause and all the people say “alone!”
It’s not God’s Will that you go through life alone! We have nearly a hundred “life groups” where people connect relationally with each other throughout the week. Yet, some still feel excluded. It does take some initiative to get involved. I tell people, if “church” to you amounts to an hour a week looking at the back of the head of the guy in front of you in the pews, there is so so so much more.
There is certainly a social side to Christmas – parties and people. Yet not everyone is invited. And, even those invited are not always accepted. If Christianity is anything, it’s relational. It’s about God having a relationship with us and us loving each other.
Some who think are “spiritual” actually flunk “relationships 101.” The Apostle Paul once said he’s not impressed if you can speak in the tongues of men and angels if you can’t say something loving you gain nothing. Go out of your way to include and accept people today.
PRAYER: God, these next few months, help me connect with a couple other people at the level Jesus connected with James and John. In fact, this coming year, set me in the midst of twelve, as Jesus had twelve, who are loving and like-minded. I ask God that you’d lead me to someone today who is feeling lonely. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Good prayer. May we also notice people we aren’t like ourselves and get out of our daily ruts as we move through life and go the less traveled path of inviting people to see the REAL us.
WOW I love this!! I love that the truth is spoken! I guess CHRISTmas isnt all about me! AMEN to relationships and very well put Kristi! I pray that we can all pass Relationships 101 and in the future move to 102 and beyond!! AMEN
Thank you for great daily devotionals. Sometimes it’s hard this time of year to focus on what really matters. Each a.m. as I read, it brings into focus that Christmas is really about Love, the love God has for us to send his son Jesus to be born, minister to people & then die on the cross & rise again for our sins, and the love, that like Christ, we should show others every day. After reading today’s devotional, I made it my mission to seek out the lonely & hurting. At work, I found myself led to talk to specific people & even to a gas station I had never been to, to bring cheer to the 2 people working there. As an extra benefit, I found that when I went out of my way to show love to others, God took care of the little issues in my life I had been concerned with.
Ephesians 3:17-19 …And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Great word. Help me Lord to be better with relationships!