Membership has its privileges
Ponder: The advantages of being a member of the body of Christ.
Scripture: “For we are members of His body” (Ephesians 5:30 NKJV ).
“Don’t leave home without it!” Your trusty plastic charge card is indispensable, to hear the company tell it. You can do anything from taking your wife to lunch to vacationing in some exotic location. Should you lose your card, you can get a replacement and a cash advance right away – your vacation won’t be ruined, and you won’t be stuck out in the middle of nowhere. Yes, as the company says, “Membership has its privileges.”
Membership in the Lord’s body (the church) has infinitely greater privileges. The church is God’s family, and members have the privilege of calling upon their Heavenly Father in prayer with confidence that He will hear and answer. They have the privilege of worshiping in spirit and truth. Wherever they go in the world, they carry with them the assurance of salvation. Should they become lost, they can confess their error to God with a repentant heart, confident that He will lovingly forgive them and restore them to His favor.
Does this sound inviting to you? Here’s how you “apply”: Hear the word of God until you come to a sincere, confident trust that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Romans 10:17; John 8:24). Let that faith motivate you to change your mind about sin (that is, repent, Acts 3:19), to confess your faith (Romans 10:9, 10), and to be immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). When you comply with those conditions, You Will Not Be Turned Down! The Lord will forgive your sins and add you to His church (Acts 2:47).
By the way, no one will run a credit check on you, and you will not receive a monthly bill. All who apply for membership are hopelessly in debt. That’s why they want membership – because Jesus paid the penalty for them when He died on Calvary. Through Him, their debt of sin can be forgiven. So can yours. Apply today!
Song: “Jesus Paid it All”
Prayer: Gracious Father, we marvel at the richness of Your grace in Christ. Thank You for Him Who paid our debt of sin so that we might enjoy the blessed privileges of being members of His body. In His name we pray, Amen.
Joe Slater (Justin, TX)