This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Have you ever wondered what the purpose of the church is?
In our culture today the purpose can be blurred or off point.
At its worst, our culture has tried to make the Church irrelevant and the cause of societies problems. Is the Church an entity that has lost it’s purpose?
At times it feels like the Church, in America at least, is relegated to a political voting block. Is this the purpose of the Church to influence American (or any country’s) politics?
At times it seems like the purpose of the Church is to solve societal ills such as poverty, homelessness, racial tensions, etc. Is this the primary purpose of the Church?
As we think about the Church, it is defined by all who believe in Jesus as their Savior. So what is the primary purpose of God’s Church, all believers? Paul outlines it in Ephesians 3:10: His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
God wants his people to take the wisdom he has given to them by the Spirit of God and proclaim it to others. The Gospel of grace is the main tool of the CHurch and the purpose of the Church is to bring this Gospel to others.
The eternal purpose of God is to have all people saved and in heaven with him. The tool he has given is the message of grace found in Jesus Christ.
So, if we focus on feeding the hungry and never share the Gospel, we have missed our purpose.
If we work hard to elect conservative leaders and never share the Gospel, we have missed our purpose.
If we work to solve the world’s problems without solving the soul’s problem, we have missed our purpose.
We have the privilege of having received the grace of God to assure us of forgiveness and oneness with God. We have been given the grace of God so we might be servants of the Gospel. We have what God has planned in eternity so we may approach him with freedom.
The soul is searching for peace with God. People fill that void with additions and activities. People try to find themselves in different lifestyles or relationships. People redefine “god” to make god what they want him to be to avoid any interaction with the true God. People fear death because they fear what follows after it.
This is the blessing of the Church and the purpose which God has given it: to proclaim grace through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus to give the soul peace with God.
Christians may be involved in other activities, yet let’s never forget our main purpose: Proclaim grace. This is God’s eternal purpose for his people.
Apply: How have you been distracted from God’s purpose for you? How can you focus more on the purpose of proclaiming grace?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace. Forgive us for our loss of focus and lead us back to be laser focused on proclaiming grace to people of this world! AMEN.