Corona Devo 1689

Our boys are two years apart in life, one grade apart in school, and their hearts seem (to me) to sometimes beat as one.  They love to joke together, listen to music together, toss the frisbee or to shoot the breeze...together.  

So it should come as no surprise to me that they share friends.  Some from one grade, and some from the other's grade...they have formed an open posse.  I say "open" because unlike most friend groups, theirs always has availability, and they exhibit no exclusivity.

Much the opposite, actually.  New people come and go weekly and everyone has a place when and if they want one.  They all have their quirks and their strengths, and as they all sat around the supper table the other night, I listened and loved the acceptance and authenticity of not just the conversation, but of the friendships that were laughing and deepening over sub sandwiches and tater tots.  A table full of different personalities, choosing to enjoy and encourage each other.  It's abundant life. 

What is it that makes them all so comfortable, and close?  

Jesus.

They all belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:1).

That's their glue.  And that...is everything.  And that is God's idea of a church.  These young men are a church, in how they are seeking to live for the Lord, together.

Their hospitality to one another, their forgiveness of each other, their championing of each other, their teasing of each other, their acceptance of each other.  Their accountability with each other: this is what God intends for his children...what He intends for the church.

Is our church like that?  

Are our friendships like that?  

Are our family ties like that?

I pray so.  And (with God's leading) we can make it so.

This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.  We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  

(2) May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.  

(3) Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 

(4) We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering...

(11) So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call.

May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 

(12) Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. 

This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.  ~2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12

~~~

Paul and Silas and Timothy were writing a letter to the people in the church at Thessalonica, and those people (of God) got it.  

They belonged to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ...and because of this common tie that bound them together...they belonged to each other too.  

What a beautiful thing.  What a beautiful joy.  What a beautiful life.  The abundant life.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  ~John 10:10

It's (very) hard to have abundant life all alone, because that wasn't God's plan for us.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, (25) not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  ~Hebrews 10:24-25

~~~

Is our church like that?  

Are our friendships like that?  

Are our family ties like that?

I pray so.  And (with God's leading) we can make it so.

Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.  ~2 Thessalonians 1:3

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com