The Church Christ Builds, Pt. 7

Think of the commitments you’ve made in your life. You have family commitments that you’re born into. You can’t change those. You create commitments in your life when you make promises. Young people have parents who make their commitments for them. They sign up their kids for sports, piano lessons, musicals, theater, and similar things. Commitments are made. And what parent hasn’t told their kid, “Listen, we made this commitment and we’re going to follow through”? That’s a good lesson to learn. If no one learns commitment, society falls apart.

Have you made a commitment to the church? Without commitments, the church falls apart. Jesus intends Christians to be committed to one another, like an eye is committed to a hand or a brother is committed to a sister (1 Cor. 12:14-15, 1 Pet. 1:22).

Jesus invites us to commit to one another. Do you know that every time you gather to take communion, you’re renewing your commitment to the people around you? You’re telling them, “I believe the same Christ as you. I am a member of the New Covenant with you. I’m in Christ with you, and I’m here for you. You are my family. I will not abandon you. I will not leave you.” You made that commitment when you followed Christ, you ratified that commitment when you were baptized, and you renew that commitment every time we take communion. Every corporate gathering is an expression of a commitment you’ve made to a specific people.

There comes a point in your life as a growing believer when showing up to church is more than a weekly tune up for your own soul. As you grow in love for one another, you begin to think more of your commitment to actual people-- with names and faces and stories. There comes a point where you go, “My friend so-and-so will be there. He’s going through struggles at home, he’s facing depression, and I need to be there with him” or “My friend is preaching on this topic, and it’s important for all of us to get this, so I’ll be there prayerfully supporting him” or “I heard Bob is bringing his neighbor along next Sunday. Let’s be on time so we’re prepared to welcome him.” We’ve made commitments to one another. We say, “Who knows how God may use me there this morning!”

Jesus is committed to the church. He loves the church and died to purchase it. He calls it his bride. Christians, following Jesus, commit themselves to the church as well.

Yours for Christ,
Eric