Last week in our Sunday morning service, the preacher suggested to us that the ideal congregation would be one where the members are just as committed to one another as they are to Jesus. That’s a radical thought, isn’t it?
If you think about it, that’s really the Lord’s heart for His Church. As His body, we represent Him. We are His hands and feet here on earth. So, of course, we should be as committed to one another as we are to the Lord.
Jerry Bridges, in his book, Biblical Community, said, “For many years, I took an individualistic approach to the Christian life. I was concerned about my growth as a Christian, my progress in holiness, my acquisition of ministry skills. I prayed that God would enable me to be more holy in my personal life and more effective in my evangelism … But as I learned more about true fellowship, I began to pray that we as the body of Christ would grow in holiness, that we would be more effective witnesses to the saving grace of Christ. It is the entire body – not just me – that needs to grow.
“Of course, we cannot ignore our individual, personal responsibility to grow in the Christian life. The body grows as each member grows. But the ultimate focus of our concern should be the same as God’s: growth of the whole body. I should be as concerned about the other members’ growth as I am about my own.”
Our society says that everything is just about the needs and desires of the individual. But that’s not a biblical perspective.
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)
To Make You Think 