Daily Encouragement ~ 12/11

December 11, 2011 at 3:30 am · Filed under Daily Encouragements, Inspiration ·Tagged Bible, Charles L. Mashburn, devotions, encouragement, God, hope, Jesus, joy, love, Peace, writer

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.         John 17:22-23

I believe the church consists of all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and love God. That is the simplicity of it. I know there are many different churches/denominations, and they all have their rules and guidelines, and most of them are of the opinion their way is the only way. To that I politely say, “bunk.”

The church is not a building or a group within a building; it is a body of like-minded people, many of whom will never set eyes on most of the others in the group. They are a body united in spirit when they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and love God. There are no rules or rituals; no meetings; no thou-shalts and thou-shalt-nots. There is only a deep and passionate love for the Lord. Where such love exists, there is a unity of spirit, and God is there also.

Most will disagree with my simple assessment of the church. Most will disagree with the idea that there are no rules to be obeyed or structure to adhere to. I have no quarrel with those that disagree, because I believe it is God’s job to bring each of us to Him and lead us to do the things He would have us do. I will not debate the things of God, I will merely state what I perceive and that I am doing God’s will.

Most of all, I will love Him. How can that be wrong?

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