GROWING TOGETHER
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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.
Harriet Tubman is quoted for having said: "I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves." How often do we, like those slaves, fail to recognize our own bondage?
In our pursuit of freedom, we often overlook the subtle ways in which we become enslaved to something else entirely. Galatians 5:1 warns us: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
In a world that often equates freedom with the absence of rules or constraints, the concept of true freedom can sometimes be distorted. We see it portrayed as the ability to do whatever we want, whenever we want, and without consequence. We prioritize our own desires and impulses, regardless of how it may impact the world around us.
The reality is, this distorted view of freedom blinds us to the chains that bind us. We may believe ourselves to be free, yet we’re still enslaved to addiction, materialism, shame, self-doubt, or fear.
But there is hope in that Christ has already set us free. In the depths of our bondage and darkness, Jesus intervened with unparalleled grace and love, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice. He paved the way where there seemed to be none, ushering us into the light of His salvation. “For at one time, you were in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). It's a profound shift from slavery to freedom, from despair to hope, made possible only through the redemptive life of Jesus Christ.
Jesus did what we could never do. And so, our efforts to try to free ourselves are pointless and another way that we’re still held captive.
True freedom is not found in fighting to free ourselves and it’s not found in a life without limits. Where else can we find it, but in surrendering ourselves to the transformative power of God's love and grace, by whom we now get to choose life and life abundantly.
But here's the kicker: this freedom isn't just about us. It's about how we interact with the world around us. It's about loving others fiercely, forgiving freely, and serving selflessly. It's about making a difference not out of obligation, but out of a genuine desire to spread the love and freedom we’ve received.
And while this freedom might sound all rainbows and butterflies, it's not always easy. We still mess up, we still stumble, and we still face challenges. But even in those moments, we can find comfort in knowing that it was never dependent on our own efforts.
Let us cast off the shackles of false freedom and embrace the liberating truth of our identity as beloved children of God. Let's live lives marked by love, kindness, and generosity. Let's be bold in our faith, knowing that we're walking in the footsteps of the One who set us free. Because in Christ, we're not just free – we're liberated to live lives that point others to him so they can live in freedom too.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Mike
CHURCH ISN'T A BUILDING. IT'S THE BODY OF BELIEVERS.
CHURCH ISN'T A WHOLE. IT'S INDIVIDUALS EACH BUILDING THEIR OWN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND LEARNING TO FULFILL THEIR GOD GIVEN CALLING.
CHURCH ISN'T PERFECT PEOPLE. IT'S SINNERS, IMPERFECT PEOPLE, LEARNING TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT INSTEAD OF THE FLESH. IT'S PEOPLE WHO NEED GRACE UPON GRACE.
CHURCH ISN'T A PLACE FOR JUDGEMENT. IT'S A PLACE FOR GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE.
CHURCH ISN'T AN OBLIGATION. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR INTIMATE WORSHIP AND SERVICE.
CHURCH ISN'T SOCIAL INTERACTIONS. IT'S THE MIGHTY, POWERFUL PRESENCE OF GOD WE ENCOUNTER.
LET'S HAVE CHURCH!
LET'S BE THE CHURCH!
DON'T LET YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, FAILURES, MISTAKES, SOCIAL STATUS OR EDUCATION LEVEL ~DEFINE~ YOUR VALUE. THROUGH GOD'S EYES, WE ARE ALL EQUALLY VALUED AND TREASURED; THAT'S WHAT MATTERS. I'M ABLE TO HAVE PEACE KNOWING IT'S OKAY IF I'M NOT ACCEPTED IN THE WORLD, BECAUSE I KNOW JESUS VALUES ME. ACCEPT OTHERS FOR WHO THEY ARE AND KNOW THAT JESUS VALUES THEM TOO! GOD TELLS US TO NOT BE OF THIS WORLD BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF HIS MIND THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
EVEN THOUGH I'VE MADE MISTAKES, I'VE NOT ACHIEVED EVERYTHING I WANT IN LIFE YET, AND I DOUBT MYSELF. I AM ABLE TO LEAN ON THE FACT THAT JUST BECAUSE I HAVE ALL THESE EXPECTATIONS FOR MYSELF THERE IS NOTHING, I CAN POSSIBLY DO TO LESSEN THE VALUE AND LOVE JESUS HAS FOR ME.
I HOPE READING THIS MADE YOU REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE VALUED AND LOVED TOO!
~ H. PLUMLEY
THE CHURCH IS MEANT TO BE A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS JOINING TOGETHER FOR ONE PURPOSE. RECOGNIZING THAT TRUE LIFE IS DENIAL OF SELF WITH A VISION FOR ETERNITY; BUILDING OTHERS UP AND STRENGTHENING ONE ANOTHER AS IRON SHARPENS IRON. WE LONG TO REACH OTHERS AND SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST BUT THAT IS NOT WHERE WE WANT OUR PURPOSE TO END; CONTINUING TO WALK ALONGSIDE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS BECOMING LIKE CHRIST THROUGH DISCIPLESHIP. WITHOUT THAT COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, WE LOSE A VALUABLE, ESSENTIAL PART THAT ENABLES US TO GROW IN OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER. IRON CANNOT SHARPEN IRON IN AND OF ITSELF BUT WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, TOGETHER WE CAN HELP STRENGTHEN EACH OTHER FOR THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES WE FACE.
THIS COMMUNITY IS NOT PERFECT. WE RECOGNIZE OUR NEED FOR GRACE UPON GRACE. IT IS WITH LOVE THAT WE LONG TO GROW CLOSER TO CHRIST AND OFFER A PLACE TO GROW IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD TOGETHER. WE RUN THIS RACE TOGETHER, NOT WITH A COMPETITIVE END, BUT IN ENDURANCE TOWARDS THE ETERNAL GOAL. THIS COMMUNITY ALLOWS US TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WITH A COMMON GOAL TO STRENGTHEN OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. IT'S A PLACE WE ALL BELONG; IT'S OUR FATHER'S HOUSE.
MAY WE SEE THIS IN OUR CHURCH AND IN OURSELVES. MAY WE RECOGNIZE OUR ROLES AS HIS CHURCH AND YEARN TO HAVE EYES OF COMPASSION FOR HIS PEOPLE. MAY WE OFFER GRACE BEFORE JUDGEMENT. MAY WE NOT COMPETE BUT ENCOURAGE. MAY WE NOT BE COMPLACENT BUT DAILY SEEKING. MAY WE BE WILLING TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE IN LOVE AND HAVE WILLING HEARTS TO ANSWER HIS CALL FOR SERVICE. MAY WE LOVE GOD WELL SO WE CAN TRULY LOVE HIS PEOPLE AS HE DOES. AS IRON SHARPENS IRON, MAY WE WORK TOGETHER. MAY WE STEP UP AND BE THE CHURCH.
PROVERBS 17:27
IRON SHARPENETH IRON; SO A MAN SHARPENETH THE COUNTENANCE OF HIS FRIEND
~ C. ELSWICK
