“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht   

“Homily Grits Devotional”   http://www.homilygrits.com/ 

Ephesians 4:14-15…  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Himwho is the head—Christ—  (NKJV)

This opening scripture comes from the short chapter 4 of the Epistle that the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus…  It is directed to the believers there, to instruct them to start acting like the Christians they were called by the Lord to become…

Ephesians 4:2-6…  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  (NKJV)

I know it can be hard for some Christian teenagers and young adults to get serious about their faith…  It’s just not the cool thing to settle down and find a good Bible believing and Bible preaching church… And with partying on weekends… who has time to spend in God’s house, to worship Him Sunday morning, after getting only a few hours of sleep ??

But Christians of all ages are called to assemble together, united with other believers in fellowship with one another…as they praise and worship the Lord as a church body…Hebrews 10:23-25… Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.  (NKJV)

True Christians in God’s eyes…are called to live lives that reflect who they are in Christ…2 Corinthians 3:18… The Apostle Paul pens this, in…Ephesians 4:20-24…  But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.  (NKJV)

All Christians have been given a spiritual gift to be used to help a church become a complete body of Christ…Ephesians 4:7-8… But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul goes on to say that these spiritual gifts are…Ephesians 4:12-13…  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;  (NKJV)

And finally…this scripture from this chapter about why every believer should be part of a church body…Ephesians 4:16… from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.  (NKJV)

I spent several days writing about what makes a good church…about the right church doctrine…and about getting “plugged in” to a good Bible believing, Bible teaching church (using the spiritual gift God has given each Christian)…  And how digging deeper into God’s Word, through attending a Bible study, will give the dedicated, Spirit filled Christian, blessings from above that have to be experienced to be believed…

Here is the link to 1 days writing; allowing someone to check out all of these important topics regarding what I believe makes for a vibrant…growth oriented…church body of Christ; that God will honor for the truth that is being taught… https://godsmanforever.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/gods-group-thoughts-for-2142013-follow-your-heart/

So I urge every Christian reading these words today…if they are not regularly attending a church who preaches the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (and they are physically able to get to a church)…that they consider joining other believers to corporately worship and praise the Lord…   The Bible teaches us, that young adults need to put away their childish things…1 Corinthians 13:11…   When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  (NKJV)

The blessings the Lord will shower on His obedient children who get “plugged in” to a vibrant, Christ centered church body…will bring a peace, and a joy, and a heart filled with the love of Christ…that will have the Christian scratching their head, wondering why they waited so long to start living for the Lord…

Heavenly Father, I pray that You urge all of Your children…to do their very best to become part of a church body of Christ…  Help all of us Father…to gather regularly in a church that preaches the gospel of Your Son Jesus Christ…  I pray that You urge all of Your children to do their very best, to live in Your will and Your ways…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills