Christ doesn’t close
I love my church.
My church family sees at my worst, they see me at my best and love me still.
I’m grateful for a Bible believing church and pastors who encourage me and believe in what God’s doing through me.
But not just my church. I believe in the local church, period. I believe in your church, and her church, my church, and their church (this is sounding like a Dr. Seuss book).
I love to see how God is moving through each one of them.
Friend, this faith journey we’re on is not a competition on who has the greatest attendance or the greatest reach, but it is cheering one another on.
Knowing that we are all working to bring people’s hearts to God. That is the local church.
It’s sharing our everyday life, struggles, setbacks, victories, proving God’s goodness and salvation to a lost and dying world.
The local church is bringing people into a relationship with Jesus despite their imperfections and sin struggles. It’s loving the unlovable despite how we feel.
“So that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” —1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (CSB)
“But Cassie, with the COVID-19 running rapid, we can’t get to the local church, it’s closed.”
You’re right, we can’t. But what I love about Christ is that he isn’t confined to the local church building and his people aren’t either.
Our churches are closed, but Christ doesn’t close.
His arms keep reaching, his ear remains open, his heart keeps beating, his feet keep moving.
And FYI, the church is the body of believers, our church building is just a building we gather in.
Please don’t misunderstand me, I want you to plug into your church, you need your church family, you NEED to gather when the doors are open.
I want you to serve and reach people through the ministry at your church. But, just because the doors are closed, doesn’t mean we get to stop being the church, and it doesn’t mean Jesus is on vacation.
In a world full of fear, panic, and chaos, it would be easy to shut down, to stop being the church.
But friend, I think this is our time to shine.
This is our time to step up in a crazy, amazing way and REACH out for those drowning in fear.
It’s our time to step up in our faith and make Jesus a priority in our life.
There is nothing else to do. The world has closed, so this opportunity to dig into the Word, spend time in prayer, FaceTime a friend and pray for her, share your groceries with someone who’s lost their job, pick up your elderly neighbors necessities, SHARE Jesus.
If you can’t GO to church, BE the church.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45 (CSB)
I pray for comfort, peace, and health over you in this time of uncertainty.
Uncertainty can be scary and uncomfortable.
But, be certain of this, Christ doesn’t close. He doesn’t take a day off; he is here for you, and he is asking you to be there for your neighbor.
If you can’t GO to church, BE the church to those around you. It truly is our time to shine our light for Jesus.
I want to know how you’re helping in your community. Email me at connect@cassiedowns.com and let me know! And if you are over the age of 60 or are at greater risk for the virus because of health issues and you live in the Stockton, Missouri, area, let me know if I can help you. I’m happy to pick up groceries or medications, etc.
Cassie Downs, formerly of the Ellsinore area, is a bible teacher, author, retreat host, founder of Everyday Jesus Ministry, and serves as operations pastor at The Hill Church.
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