What would I be doing today if I hadn’t yet found the church of Christ? I’d be looking for it!
I know a man who will inherit a lot of property when his father passes. In his youth he cared nothing for it and was pleased that, due to a legal technicality, the land would probably go to his younger brother. All of that changed when an extended family member made a claim on the land during his absence. He quickly returned to the property, solved the legal technicalities, and accepted his role as rightful heir. Despite all previous disinterest in the land, he now honours his inheritance. Why? Because he realises that the inheritance is a treasure placed in his hands on behalf of his whole family.
There are no two ways about it, we honour that which we value. The men in Jesus’ parables, when realising the value of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, sold all and secured their ownership. The church is that uncovered treasure and that discovered pearl. So, when we treat the church as if it were an optional extra, we reveal everything about the value we place upon it.
Don’t think that what we have can’t be taken away from us. We have no idea how many believers and congregations were swept away by the likes of Stalin and Mao. Christians who believe that their leaders love them, even though they treat Jesus and his church as valueless, are guilty of a serious miscalculation.
Jesus paid for the church in blood (Acts 20:28) and adds to that church all who have faith in the power of that saving blood—Praise God!
What do we mean by ‘Love’? Those who love the brotherhood are those who value it above all else.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
John Staiger
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