Option or Opportunity

A friend of mine shared with me about a two months ago what God had been laying on his heart about church. He told me that "church is an opportunity not an option." For these past couple months my friends words about church participation have been resonating in my soul.

Too often we see participation in the live and happenings of the church as an option. Church attendance, church worship, and fellowship with other Christians are just some of many options we have to choose from in our day. Church or something else it is our choice. Someday it is a choice that we want and we will participate and sometimes we choose something else.

Church is opportunity not a choice.

Church is an opportunity to encounter and experience God in the midst of of our lives. Church is an opportunity to worship, to love, to find meaning in life. Church is an opportunity to share our lives with Jesus and other followers of Jesus. Church is an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Church is an opportunity to live out our faith in relationship with Christ and in community with other followers of Jesus. Church is an opportunity to be transformed from self-centered "what is in it for me" choices to a Christ centered joy filled live of service to God and others.

Church is an opportunity to know God and his forgiveness. Church is an opportunity to find a shoulder to cry on, a friend to lean on, and a God to love on. It is an opportunity to love and be loved, to know and be known, to serve and be served.

We can choose, that is what free will is all about. But church, is more than a option that we have to choice from. It is an opportunity. In fact, as those seeking to follow Jesus and live out our faith, it is no longer an option, it is necessary for us, we cannot follow Jesus alone, in isolation. We need the church. It is not an option it is our greatest opportunity.

Love today.

In Christ's love and mine,

Doug