What Makes the Church Special For You?

For Christ's love compel us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

  And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him 

who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

What makes the church special for me? The preacher asked this question tonight during our midweek devotional.  It's indeed a thought provoking question.  My mind literally search for the right answer and I can cite a lot of reasons of what makes it special.  But what really stands out among all those reasons is God Himself, after all God is the reason why there is a church. 

The times that I studied the Bible and decided to be a disciple and was introduced to the church that help me nourish my personal relationship with God are some of the times that I considered the biggest events of my life. I appreciate how each day God revealed and continuously revealing Himself to me, I appreciate that everytime I struggle with my faith the more that I am reminded that God is there, that when I feel that I am weak, then I become much stronger because there is a God who is with me.  My Church is special because it is all about God, although is is full of imperfect people like me but it is also the church that keeps teaching and helping me understand the true meaning of  Cross which is the full measure of God's unconditional love.

What makes the church special for me, is also because of the mission we have as a disciple, we were taught that we should not become a "dead end christian" that salvation stops on you, on us, but we were taught, trained and encourage to do share and help someone to also know God in the same way that we received help from others.  The Mission becomes our Purpose in life, it is for this reason that the authenticity of our faith, our discipleship lies in how we live out the Mission that was given to us.  Many times I failed to live out the purpose that I have as a disciple, I become complacent and selfish "christian" but I'm thankful that God still giving me chances to make up and repent.  I've realized that everytime I studied the Bible with others, I feel so much the power of God's Word to change the heart of people, that everytime I decided to share my faith with others, or atleast invite someone to go to church the more that I experience the blessings of faith and obedience.  I remember one Sunday message, the preacher said that everytime we studied the Bible with people, we experience God's redemption, it's like a "breath of fresh air" in our lives, no matter how struggle you are but once you decide to reach out to someone in the best way that you can possibly do, a change of heart and focus also happens to you.

God and the Mission, that's what makes my Church special to me. I said this once and I will say it again, I cannot promise God that I will always be strong in my faith, there will be days I can be at my weakest point of my christian life but I'l strive hard to stay in this course, to go to church, to pray, to read the Bible, to jot down notes, to love and protect the church and share it to people.

Whatever reasons we have that makes the church special for us, may Christ love compel us to always work for those reasons so that we will present a Church that will greatly glorify God.