Articles
Zeal for Church
An interesting question to consider as the pandemic persists is, what is your zeal rating for church? Regardless of an individual’s comfortability with being around others, there can be the temptation for complacency when worshipping God. His church is more than just a building because it is a place where everyone can be interconnected by a love deeper than human comprehension. The church serves as Christ’s body. The structure of God’s church is centered around Christ and His unifying teachings of love. We should be unified on a level that is deeper than can be seen (Eph. 4:1-6). Jesus died for our promise to attain everlasting life. By following His teachings we can live peacefully united with the common purpose of glorifying God.
Whether we are attending on zoom or in person, God grants us opportunities to glorify Him and spread His truth. The devil, being the powerful adversary of Christ, is going to try to hinder God’s children in their mission to glorify Him. In 1 Thessalonians 2:18 (ESV) Paul wrote, “because we wanted to come to you—I Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.” Satan uses the world’s distractions and situations to try to limit our effectiveness in proclaiming the gospel. The devil also knows that prey is easily defeated when they are alone, instead of being spiritually united. The devil’s tricks may also seem like new inventions to us, but as the Bible states in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”
Even though the characteristics of our struggles haven’t changed, neither has God. He has always been watching over and caring for His children. When Paul was not able to be face to face with his brethren in Thessalonica, God provided the opportunity for Timothy to go in his place. Timothy encouraged the Thessalonians to keep their faith. God grants the opportunities for us to be encouraged by others, just as much as He allows us to be a blessing to others. Therefore, we should remain vigilant in seizing our opportunities to help and be helped by others. Although Paul was not able to be with the Thessalonians in person, he constantly prayed for them and the opportunity to see them (1 Thess. 3:1-13). Think of all the new possibilities we have to still be connected to God and our brethren with all the technology God has blessed us with today. So, whether we are meeting in person, or at home, “let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
