God Reflection: Let’s Love Jesus and His Church

The imagery of a bicycle chain worn-out over decades of keeping tires in forward motion seems appropriate as I begin today’s post.

My intention is not to be nostalgic or less than optimistic.

I loved “the hunt” and action of my doing years. I saw God use my life to connect people with Jesus and to plant churches in great cities.

Now, I find it is time to reflect and to be.

Reflection and being is “the hunt” of my remaining time on earth.

This post brings to a close the time I spent over the past eight months reflecting on church tied to the cross. I lamented a lack of unity and praised the efforts of the church to interface with a lost world.

Jesus sacrificed his life because of the value of church. It is the home of the redeemed.

I love the idea of preparing for God’s service in the new creation. If I am going to spend eternity as a member of Jesus’ church, I want to understand how to be a more Christ-like body member.

I come away with two impressions resulting from what I trust to have been GodReflection time on a church built at the foot of a cross.

First, I stand in awe at the grandness of church. Its price, its intent, its presence, and its future are magnificent beyond words.

Second, I lament the lackadaisical attitude in which I held church unity for a great portion of my life.

I outlined five steps over the past five posts that I intend to implement in my life to be less of an offender and a smaller obstacle in the quest for unity.

I want to do a better job at honoring Scripture.

I want to keep before me the vision of unity required by the holy connection of cross to church.

Going forward I want to grow in humility. I see that pride in my own conclusions can destroy unity with a fellow Christ follower.

It is time to elevate unity to the level of doctrine.

It is time to stop letting status quo dictate the lack of unity.

Finally, I want to remind myself once more of the importance of my pledge of love to both Jesus and His church.

It is never either or.

It is always both.

Unity will flow easier from my life as I increase the heat of my faith flame to exalt and honor the bride while I give allegiance and worship to the head.

Here is what I think.

It is impossible to honor Jesus as head and not exalt church as His body. I have no choice in the matter. Jesus grafted me into His body the moment I submitted my life to Him. If I am in Jesus, I am in His church.

My only choice is the degree to which I choose to love Jesus.

The deeper my love grows toward Jesus the greater will be my love for His body.

Conversely, any hurt I administer to the body is a wound felt by Jesus.

I want to learn to love His entire body from His little toe to the top of His neck.

Body is inclusive. It includes every brother and sister adopted by God into His family.

The challenge of contributing to the unity of Christ’s church will always stand before me.  Will you join me as we once again confess before God our weakness in this area and seek the power of His Spirit to make us a more loving and accepting people?

Stay tuned. 

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – Reflecting on Cross Church

Gary@GodReflection.org