Til the Day I Die: A 6-Day Devotional With Fellowship CreativeSample

THE CHURCH

Sam Kelly

Have you found yourself looking around at everything going on in the world over the past few years and thought to yourself, “What is happening?!?” It seems like every time I open Instagram, watch the news, or talk with friends, I am met with more bad news. Stories of people divided against one another, political strife, and mass shootings seem to be the new normal. On top of that, we are met with statistics on anxiety and depression skyrocketing at paces that statisticians can’t even keep up with. It’s overwhelming, and if I can be honest, sometimes I find myself thinking, “Is there any hope left for this crazy world we live in?”

It’s easy to feel that all hope is lost in times like these, but just because you feel a certain way doesn’t make it true. In moments such as these, we as Christians need to look towards scripture to direct and guide our thoughts and feelings.

One scripture, in particular, that I am drawn to is when Jesus is talking to His disciple Peter about the church. In the book of Mathew, Jesus makes a bold proclamation that reminds us THERE IS HOPE! It reads,

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mathew 16:18, ESV).

These 26 words could be tempting to pass over and continue with your day like normal, but let me draw our attention to the phrase, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” These are some of the most incredibly inspiring and hope-filled words. We’re reminded that there will be hope as long as the Church exists. Can a law passed by the government change and transform a human heart? Can the education system bring redemption to young lives? Can a social media app bring intrinsic value and worth to humanity and remind them why they exist? No. No. And No! What can? Jesus. Only Jesus. The Church is the entity primarily responsible for carrying the message of Jesus. Therefore I would like to remind you that the Church is the hope of the world!

Contrary to what many believe, Jesus' 24/7 full-time focus is to build His Church. He’s not directing the angelic choir, not ensuring the planets stay in order, and not watching the Cowboys lose on Sunday (I’m from Dallas, so this stings a little). From the moment Jesus ascended into heaven until the moment He returns, He is building His church. How does He do it? He does it by tapping on the hearts of individuals like you and me, reminding us that part of the reason He has redeemed us and given us the gifts, talents, and abilities that we have, is to help build His church. He does so because the Church is the hope of the world!

It seems like all hell has been breaking loose in our society. I wonder sometimes, could it be that we have become so focused on building our own lives and careers that we have lost focus or forgotten to build the one thing Jesus said is the hope of the world? Please, whatever you do, don’t forget why you’re here. Jesus has a critical role for you to play in building His church. Our world desperately needs the Church!

I pray that Christians would be reminded that there is nothing better we can do with our time, resources, and energy than build the Church because the Church is the hope of the world. This is all that matters; it’s why He died, so what are we waiting for? Let's build his Church!