March 23, 2022

“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25

Throughout my years as a pastor, I’ve had many a churchgoer disappear from services and Bible studies for months and sometimes years. Some end up going to other churches, but many have simply stopped going to church at all. It is the second group that worries me. But more often than not, they eventually start showing up again. Many things bring them back; longing for fellowship, struggles in their lives, and sometimes guilt. There is one thing, however, which brings people back to church that may surprise you; quite often, people return because they need the strength, support, and wisdom to help someone else in their life. Maybe a coworker is going through a tragedy, maybe a child is caught up in sin, or maybe a friend is struggling with addiction. When a brother or sister in Christ realizes God is calling them to minister to someone they love, then that believer quickly realizes the strength to accomplish that task is not something they can simply muster on their own.

Who in your life needs you to be a strong and healthy follower of Jesus? Who are the people around you who need you to minister to them? Developing and maintaining a strong walk with Christ is often seen as simply a personal endeavor. This can quickly become self-centered spirituality. It is true that we each need to be strong in our faith in order to be a healthy individual. But it is also true that those around us need us to be strong in our faith. Are you spending time in prayer? Are you spending time in the Word? Are you making meeting with your church family a high priority? I sure hope so! Because there are countless people around you who need you to be the light of Christ in their lives.

Lord, fill us with a passion to minister to others. Let our relationship with You and Your Church be a vital part of our daily walk so that we have the strength to shine Your light in the lost and broken world around us.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon