SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 ~ FROM A PASTOR'S HEART

SEPTEMBER 14 DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING: Psalm 133

It is the Lord who ordained and established the church. I don't believe it was His intent to create a religious organization or establish another corporation. The church is to be the Body of Christ. He intended to be alive through us. That's why it is so important for the church to be in unity! We are to be unified in Christ as one Body, functioning together to join God our Father in His great plan to reach precious lost souls. It is God's plan to use the church, which is the Body of Christ to reach the world with the Gospel. In order for us to be a part of that great plan, we must be one in the Lord and one with each other.

The Lord has called us to not only be reconciled to Him, but to be reconciled to one another. Reconciliation begins with each of us asking the Holy Spirit if there is something in us that is hindering the unity for which Christ prayed. It doesn't begin by looking around and telling everyone else in the church where they are deficient...but by looking inside and seeing where we are (I am) not responsive, loving, forgiving and caring to my brothers and sisters in Christ. It is far too easy to look at others and find fault to justify why we can't be reconciled and walk in unity with them. But Paul says that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. That ministry is certainly two-fold. It begins with those who are part of the Body of Christ and then extends to the lost world around us. In the church it starts with brokenness before God and each other, then and only then can God's love break out. In the world the reconciliation is brought about as the unified church walks in the power of the Holy Spirit and shares the Gospel and people are brought to Christ.

Today would be a great day to ask the Lord to begin to bring reconciliation in His church...it would be a good place for each of us to start with ourselves!

Please share your thoughts.