God has called us to belong to Jesus and with His people. It is up to us to act as if that is true in our lived experience by affirming what we have in common and celebrating what makes us different.
A big part of what Jesus meant by “church” is the idea of “calling together” a diverse group of individuals into His family, so they can connect with one another and together carry God’s presence to the world.
I fear that the American church in 2021 has lost sight of its God-appointed purpose. The first step to rediscovering that purpose is to remember Who our Father is and who He has said that we are.
When we respond to opposition from culture or government as God desires, instead of just reacting out of fear or anger, He sends His power to equip us to keep doing His work with boldness. That’s REAL power; that’s the power we need to seek.
The calling that we receive from God on the mountaintop must be lived out down in the valley of “real life”. When you have to come back to reality, be sure to follow the example of Jesus’s parents after the First Christmas.
Before jumping into a relationship with God, it’s important to know how hope “works.” While God’s promises won’t be fulfilled until some future time, God always gives a “down payment” for us to enjoy while we wait, proving that we can trust Him to keep His promises.