I Give Thanks for the Church

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.  ~Acts 2:46-47

Today I give thanks for the Church -- for the fellowship of believers around the world who shine like stars in this dark and crooked world.  It is a wonderful thing to be able to gather with like-minded people in a common endeavor, and share the work, the support, the encouragement, the teaching and exhortations and everything else that it takes to bring the message of God's love to a broken and hurting world. The church is a family, and that is how it should be -- a place of nurturing, education, discipline and fun fellowship.  As we have been visiting some new churches this year, I began to realize more and more that church isn't so much about what you get out of it, as what you put into it.  And now when I miss church, or just come to visit and not participate, I truly feel that I am missing out.  Get involved with your church, it's how God intended it.

And we are so blessed in this country to be able to go to church openly!  And we have our pick of denominations and buildings.  But for so much of the world, believers risk their freedom and even their lives just meeting together in a basement or darkened room.  Consider this case in Iran and thank God that you can worship openly in fellowship with other believers:

On March 5,2009, Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad and Maryam Rustampoor were arrested by Iranian security forces and labeled "anti-government activists," according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). "Their only crime is that they are committed Christians who follow the teachings of Jesus," FCNN added. "They are being unfairly labeled as 'anti government activists' because of the hostility of the government towards practicing Christians."
On Aug. 8, Marzieh and Maryam were summoned to an Iranian court and ordered to deny their faith verbally and in a written statement. Praise God, they stood firm and replied, "We love Jesus. We will not deny our faith." They have been sent back to Evin prison.
Marzieh and Maryam's arrest is the latest incident highlighting increased government intimidation of Christians in Iran. Believers are subjected to surveillance, arrests, imprisonment, and sometimes torture.

(for more information on this and other cases, see

PrisonerAlert.com)

 

Lord, let me never forget what a blessing it is to be a part of the body of believers.  I thank You and praise You for creating us as people in need of relationship with You and with each other, and for establishing the church as the place for just that.  Bless and strengthen the faith of those who are not free to meet together to study your Word.  Amen.