Devotion 8/26, She’s a Beauty!
The church . . . enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. Acts 9:31
When I think of the church, I think of it as something of beauty. Sure, it has scratches and dents, and of course it can have an ugly side because it’s made of people—but I think the church can be so stunning.
When Saul (Paul) became a follower of Jesus, he was committed to making sure the church was something to behold.
This verse for us today is worth reading a few times. The newly formed church of Jesus was a place of peace and was being built up. I think of a high-rise building being built floor by floor—and before you know it, the beauty is revealed. The people (the church) walked in the fear of God and multiplied.
The building-up of the church wasn’t about slick programs or clever preaching. The hearts of the people were aligned with God, and they were encouraged by the Holy Spirit. They had a deep sense of awe as they walked in step with the Lord, and they made sure God got the glory.
Our church was built out of a calling, and it’s a beauty.
God, forgive us for seeing the church through the wrong lens at times. Guide us to focus on the right things that will help us grow “Your” church and kingdom. Amen.
Have you ever been to The Little Brown Church in the Vail? It’s a beauty. A school teacher wrote a poem about a church that should be built at a location near Nashua, Iowa in the wildwood trees. Then a song was written from poem, “The Church in the Wildwood”. But then, a church was built and it’s a beauty.
Lord, I pray that we see church not as a monument, but as Your house, filled with Your Spirit and that our hearts receive Your Holy Spirit and are revived everytime we walk through it’s doors. Amen.
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