Plow
Creek Mennonite Church
Sunday
Meditations
BELONGING
Presented by Louise Stahnke
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Belonging is the most basic of all human needs. Every infant is born, ready to belong to his or her parents. Every one of us has been created with a need to belong to God, our Father, and to his family, all who worship him. The local church is an expression of that family. Our relationships here give meaning to what it is to be part of God’s family. We give each other opportunities to grow in our discipleship by needing to receive and give life to each other in our many interactions. That life can be in the form of receiving and extending grace to each other, practicing forgiveness, being challenged to grow in our ability to trust each other and Jesus, being challenged to grow in our love for our Lord.
Baptism is a sign of commitment to Jesus; membership in a local church is a sign of commitment to that part of His Body. We are called to be responsible to one another, to treat each other with respect, to help each other, to encourage each other, to forgive each other, and to be accountable to each other. In a family we often ask each other in the morning, “did you sleep well?” Yet it is easy and comfortable to avoid asking each other simple questions like, “how is your walk with the Lord this week?”
But it is a question worth asking, for it carries with it a caring about the most important part of our human life. Today we welcome Daniel into our family here in a formal way, rejoicing in his commitment to claim Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Let us commit ourselves again to that same Lord, and to a deeper caring for His family here. I believe that just as the Father created us with a deep need to belong, He rejoices greatly each time one of his children turns to Him and says, “yes, I want to belong to you forever.
BELONGING
Presented by Louise Stahnke
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Belonging is the most basic of all human needs. Every infant is born, ready to belong to his or her parents. Every one of us has been created with a need to belong to God, our Father, and to his family, all who worship him. The local church is an expression of that family. Our relationships here give meaning to what it is to be part of God’s family. We give each other opportunities to grow in our discipleship by needing to receive and give life to each other in our many interactions. That life can be in the form of receiving and extending grace to each other, practicing forgiveness, being challenged to grow in our ability to trust each other and Jesus, being challenged to grow in our love for our Lord.
Baptism is a sign of commitment to Jesus; membership in a local church is a sign of commitment to that part of His Body. We are called to be responsible to one another, to treat each other with respect, to help each other, to encourage each other, to forgive each other, and to be accountable to each other. In a family we often ask each other in the morning, “did you sleep well?” Yet it is easy and comfortable to avoid asking each other simple questions like, “how is your walk with the Lord this week?”
But it is a question worth asking, for it carries with it a caring about the most important part of our human life. Today we welcome Daniel into our family here in a formal way, rejoicing in his commitment to claim Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Let us commit ourselves again to that same Lord, and to a deeper caring for His family here. I believe that just as the Father created us with a deep need to belong, He rejoices greatly each time one of his children turns to Him and says, “yes, I want to belong to you forever.