Today we read from these verses in the One Year Bible:
Amos 1:1-3:15
Revelation 2:1-17
Psalm 129:1-8
Proverbs 29:19-20
Let's look at Revelation. The thing I'd like to draw your attention to is what I've said so far in this blog, and how it relates to today's reading. Today WE read from... LET'S look at... and in today's reading, God speaks to the churches. Not to Joe Smith who lives in Ephesus, but to the CHURCH at Ephesus.
A couple blogs ago, I talked about how God DOES speak to us individually. And many churches today REALLY emphasize (overemphasize) our PERSONAL relationship with Jesus. We are VERY individualistic today and everyone winds up feeling lonely and alone in their own houses and driving their own cars, separate from everyone else.
That's not how God made us. He made us for community, and we're going to be the happiest and healthiest when we live in a healthy community. We can only go it alone so far. We need each other. That's why God speaks to the churches - He speaks to the groups of people who are following Him - and lifting each other up as they all work together to do His will.
Do we need a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus? Arguably, yes. But most definitely we need a community in relationship with Jesus. We need the church. That's why Jesus gave us one, and told us that it would last forever.
God, thanks for reminding us that we need each other.
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