For nearly nine months, I had experienced circumstances-redundant, joy. I had known that peace that passes all human understanding. I had been filled with contentment in the midst of want.
So, what was missing during those months of living in the grace-filled waste lands … in the valley of dry bones, in the valley of the shadows?
On a warm Sunday in July, with chaos all around, with unfamiliar worship songs being sung and less than comfortable seating underneath, I knew in my heart that it was good to be in the house of God.
This was not a good feeling, due to a choice to see things as good, but one that felt good from the soul out.
Though this experience may not indicate that we have found our church home, it did remind me that we need one, and that it can truly be good to go to church. It was the truth that David spoke (Psalm 122:1):
“I was glad when they said unto me,
Let us go into the house of the LORD.”
Recently I came across words of Spurgeon:
“The church is not perfect, but woe to the man who finds pleasure in pointing out her imperfections. Christ loved his church, and let us do the same. I have no doubt that the Lord can see more fault in his church than I can; and I have equal confidence that he sees no fault at all. Because he covers her faults with his own love—that love which covers a multitude of sins; and he removes all her defilement with that precious blood which washes away all the transgressions of his people.”
Can I hear an amen, to Spurgeon’s statement, “the church is not perfect”? But, I also must say amen to the rest of that sentence, “but woe to the man who finds pleasure in pointing out her imperfections.”
Ephesians 5:25 reminds us of how very much Christ loves the church, in his sacrifice for her:
“Husbands, love your wives,
as Christ loved the church
and gave himself up for her”
It is his act of love for the church which makes our commitment to church mandatory … not because it or they are good, but because we are his, and he gave up his son for us, not only as individuals, but as the household of god.
itsawonderfilledlife 