I ran across this story that goes like this: Centuries ago in a mountain village in Europe, a wealthy nobleman wondered what legacy he should leave to his townspeople. He made a good decision. He decided to build them a church. No one was permitted to see the plans or the inside of the church until it was finished. At its grand opening, the people gathered and marveled at the beauty of the new church. Everything had been thought of and included. It was a masterpiece.
But then someone said, "Wait a minute! Where are the lamps? It is really quite dark in here. How will the church be lighted?" The nobleman pointed to some brackets in the walls, and then he gave each family a lamp, which they were to bring with them each time they came to worship.
"Each time you are here'" the nobleman said, "the place where you are seated will be lighted. Each time you are not here, that place will be dark. This is to remind you that whenever you fail to come to church, some part of God's house will be dark". When you come to Christ, you become a part of the church of this Jesus of the Bible. But that’s all Christians, everywhere! God wants you to be a regular part of a body that is learning and worshiping together, loving people together and motivating one another to acts of love and good works. Don’t kid yourself…you are important to people, and you are important to God. Don’t leave your place in church dark. Bring your light and add it to the light of all those worshiping with you. God wants you in church, the pastor wants you in church and the people there want you in church. Do all you can to be there and get ready to be encouraged and to have the opportunity to bring encouragement to others. Remember you will light up the room and put a smile on God’s face…and that Pastor’s face and the faces of all those who will be encouraged by your acts of love and good works. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (25) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
But then someone said, "Wait a minute! Where are the lamps? It is really quite dark in here. How will the church be lighted?" The nobleman pointed to some brackets in the walls, and then he gave each family a lamp, which they were to bring with them each time they came to worship.
"Each time you are here'" the nobleman said, "the place where you are seated will be lighted. Each time you are not here, that place will be dark. This is to remind you that whenever you fail to come to church, some part of God's house will be dark". When you come to Christ, you become a part of the church of this Jesus of the Bible. But that’s all Christians, everywhere! God wants you to be a regular part of a body that is learning and worshiping together, loving people together and motivating one another to acts of love and good works. Don’t kid yourself…you are important to people, and you are important to God. Don’t leave your place in church dark. Bring your light and add it to the light of all those worshiping with you. God wants you in church, the pastor wants you in church and the people there want you in church. Do all you can to be there and get ready to be encouraged and to have the opportunity to bring encouragement to others. Remember you will light up the room and put a smile on God’s face…and that Pastor’s face and the faces of all those who will be encouraged by your acts of love and good works. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (25) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ