“Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands.” —Revelation 2:1
A lot of people are fed up with the Church today. They drift away or no longer see it as relevant.
But we need to be reminded that Christ is attached to His Church. You cannot separate the “head” from the “body” (Eph. 5:23). To walk away from the Church is to walk away from Christ and what He’s doing in the world today.
No, the Church isn’t perfect. The first-century church itself struggled. And yet where do we see Jesus when He reveals His message to the apostle John? He’s walking among the “lamp-stands,” the visual image of local churches. He will not—cannot—forsake His own Body and Bride.
So plead with God to restore the Church to righteousness, unity, and great usefulness. But don’t walk away from her. Christ laid down His life for the Church; He’s committed to protecting, preserving, and purifying her. How can we not love the Church, bear with it, and join Him in seeking its revival and restoration?
Make it Personal
What’s your current relationship with your church? How might the things that distress you about church become your reason to draw nearer?