Surprise! Suddenly this foxglove appeared at the patio with a burst of color! Years ago I had
planted it, but it just didn't do well, so it disappeared. Or so I thought. It decided to make a grand entrance this spring and put on a show. It has reminded me of a few things. No surprise to you, eh?
One plant a garden does not make. The flow and rhythm of a garden is about the whole. Just as the church Body of Christ is about the whole. One person is not the church. It isn't about one person, it isn't about one receiving. The church is about worship and glory to Jesus Christ. He is the Whole, He is the focal point. We come together to corporately to lift our praise and hearts to Jesus. We come together to sing praises and study God's Word, to grow and mature, to serve and extend God's kingdom. Occasionally someone will leave the "garden" for various reasons, but most often it is because their own "needs" and desires were not met by the church. How sad is that! And how glaring of a heart exposed!
My encouragement to your heart today is to take a second look at your church, and to take a second look at why you go to church or don't go. All of us have been offended and hurt in life, but we don't stop going to other places, so why would we stop going to church? We go to church because Jesus is our Savior, we are sinners, He redeemed us from sin and from ourselves, and we understand that much. All of us on a journey toward heaven, and in the meantime we want to worship Jesus and give ourselves to His service. It is about giving of yourself, not about receiving for yourself. Our hearts are changed when we give our time, our service, our money, our talents to glorify Christ. All of a sudden it becomes "our" church not "the" church. K.C.
