Ugh... Temptation.

It comes in so many forms. It is different for each of us. Sure we may face being tempted by some similar things, but we all struggle in our own unique way.

When I started trying to live a more healthy, fit life, I struggled. (Heck, I still do. The desire of the flesh is a beast.) I struggled with the temptation to be lazy and just eat whatever was easiest to make (or buy). I struggled with overcoming excuses and making workouts a priority. I struggled with feeling like I was "missing out".

What I had to come to terms with was that even though it "felt" like the temptation was more than I could resist, that wasn't the truth. See the Bible says...

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13

We all face temptation of one kind or another. When it comes to food, I think most of us have our weaknesses. ;) The good news is that not only does God not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear...

Wait... What?! Hold up! 

If we aren't tempted beyond what we can bear, why do we give in? The answer is simple, the weakness of our flesh. 

"Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:8-9

So how do we overcome the weakness of our flesh? We seek God. See, knowing that we would be tempted, and that we are weak in the flesh, He has also made a way out so that we can endure it!

Did you know??? Tempted, in Greek, also means tested. What is the purpose of a test? Sometimes it is to measure our "ability", others it is to see how we put into practice that which we have learned.

When temptation comes, take heart that it is not more than we can bear, we have a way out... Jesus and a helper... the Holy Spirit. When you feel like you are facing a temptation that you don't see a way to overcome, pray. Contend for your "way out". Ask the Holy Spirit for help. Don't give up. You aren't doing battle alone. <3

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:11-13

 

Why Do We Go To Church?

Do we go to give or to receive?

Are we there to "see and be seen"? 

Do we go to feel good about ourselves? 

Are we there because we have "got it together"?

I have found that people have all manner of "reasons" for attending church. I wanted to know, what does the Bible say about going to "church"? First, I suppose, I should begin with "What is Church?".

You may have heard Christians say that "The church is not a building where we gather. The church is the people who gather in Christ's name." 

We, believers, are the body of Christ.

"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." - Romans 12: 4-5

Christ is the head, the leader, of the body.

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." - Colossians 1:17-18

Who is part of the body?

We all are! 

Everyone that declares with their mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believes in their heart that God raised him from the dead.

"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." - 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

So, why do we go to a building called a "Church"?

For many reasons. 

The building is a place for us to gather, as believers...

1. That we may be encouraged to live out our faith. 

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 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

2. To be together in the presence of God.

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." - Matthew 18:20

3. To learn and build relationships.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." - Acts 2:42

4. To build our faith by hearing the word of God.

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." - Romans 10:17 

5. To be strengthened.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17 

6. To be equipped for service. 

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." - Ephesians 4:11-13

7. To be able to stand firm in our faith.

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." -Ephesians 4:14-15

8. For accountability.

"See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." - Hebrews 3:12-13

9. To worship together.

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God" - Psalm 95:6-7

What is worship?

Yes, it often involves music. Sometimes it is loud and upbeat, others it is soft and reverent. It can be fun and it can be difficult. Those are components and attributes, but they are not what it is. It is much more than the sum of it's components.

It is a sacrifice, or gift of praise.

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name." - Hebrews 13:15

It is singing to God with a thankful heart.

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." - Colossians 3:16

So why, then, do I come to "church"? Why should you go?

To give or to receive?

Perhaps a little of both. 

• To give love, support, encouragement, accountability & kindness to one another. 
• To humbly offer a gift of praise to our Father who loved us even in our sin, and sent His son to die in our place, that we might be set free.
• To receive love, support, encouragement, accountability & kindness from our brothers and sisters in faith.
• To be built up and receive the instruction of the word from our pastors so that we may be equipped to do the work of the Lord. 

To get "attention"; to be seen by others so that we can boast in our "goodness"; to feel that we are better than those that did not attend or even the person sitting next to us?

No. 

We are part of the body, we have unique gifts/talents that are needed to perform the work of of the Lord, but not one part is more important than the other. 

"so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." - 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

Good works do not purchase our freedom from our sins. 

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9  

We do not come to glorify ourselves, we come to be prepared that we might glorify Him.

Do we go because we "have it all together"?

No.


Instead, we go with a humble heart, knowing full well that we are broken, that we have sinned and that we fall short of perfection. We are confessing to all that we need help; we need encouragement; we need support; we need teaching; we need direction; we need accountability; we need love; we need to belong and above all we need God. 

We go seeking a safe place... a place to be loved, a place to be welcomed, a place of forgiveness, a place to belong.

Through Jesus we receive grace and forgiveness with a repentant heart. Through His sacrifice we are set free from our sins, we are given a purpose, we are given a special place in the body (church), we have hope, we have support, we have encouragement, we have strength when we are weak, we have joy in times of sorrow, we have gratitude in times of lack... we are NOT alone. 

Don't miss out on this great gift that God has given us for the promise of something less that will only tarnish over time. 

If you do not know Jesus, if you want to know Him but don't know where to start, email me @ blesswitheachbreath@gmail.com I would love to pray with you! <3

Bless and be blessed, y'all!