The Power of One

We heard a devotional by brother Chip Nelsen on Wednesday about the importance of each member of the Church, and how we need to aid those of our number who are struggling with this concept. I loved this topic, and wanted to run with it in a bit of a different direction, but I had to give credit where credit is due.

“(4)There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; (5)one Lord, one faith, one baptism;(6)one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Ephesians 4:4-6

We are to be one; that much is evident in these verses. God is in all of us, as we see in verse six, so who are we to break apart the body of Him who created us? We are to be happy together, sorrowful together, and zealous together. We are troubled when God’s family is hurting or weak, and we rejoice and praise God together when we gain a new member of His family. If we do all of this as one, just as we are commanded, we unite Christ with His body again; and a body will only function 100% if the whole body is together.

So, if we are commanded to be one, then how? How are we, as busy working people, raising families, and working long shifts, supposed to make time outside of “Sunday Worship” or “fellowship events” for God’s family? The answer is actually quite simple. Just do it! I can tell you, the busiest person on this planet will have time for God if they desire it. If it is important to you, you will find time for it! You can wake up half an hour earlier to read your Bible and pray, you can use your “Facebook time” to dig into God’s Word; anything you do for God you do also for the Church. By strengthening yourself, you strengthen others by example. You can be one with the Church while sitting alone reading your Bible. Oneness is not just spending physical time with the Church, but also spiritual time with God.

Now, this doesn’t mean you never have to assemble with the Church again, this just means that your effort in your own spirituality greatly influences your relationship with them. So now this all begs the question: what are we to do with all this zeal and love we have with one another? We need to share it.

“(15)Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (16)Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5: 15,16

Why should we shine our light only to hide it? If we are to bring glory to God, we need to make absolutely sure we are shining our light as brightly as we can. Sadly, and I say this because I too am guilty of this, I believe our congregation is doubtful in the aspect of “are we doing enough?” I believe we can all do more, and if we don’t think we can, then we definitely need a self-check.

This week, I focused more on the Church as one than on the evangelism aspect of the Peter and Paul groups. God is the foundation for evangelism, with Jesus as the ultimate example, but without a strong, united Church, we won’t take a single step closer to a growing congregation.

I am so blessed to be a member of the Church, and I pray for our congregation every day. This week, I will pray specifically for our relationship with one another as a single body of Christ. I ask you to do the same.

In Him,

Halle Nelsen