Where Do We Fit

By Paula Williamson, guest writer

The enemy of our souls makes it easy to believe we do not fit in. Everyone looks for a place to belong. We are like a puzzle piece meant for a big picture, but where is it? Scripture teaches that when we surrender our lives to Christ, we become part of the body of Christ. Before King James changed the name of that body to church, that word was not even in the Bible. The word for the body of Christ was ekklesia, meaning the called-out ones, the community of the redeemed, God’s governing body upon the earth. It was man who divided us into denominations, not God. We are one body, human and imperfect, a work in progress.

It Is Written

EPHESIANS 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household, ²⁰having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. ²² In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Our Purpose

Everything has a purpose. The redeemed are the saints in God’s household. We are a dwelling place of God, and Jesus holds the whole structure together. We are constantly changing and being built into His holy place. If we search for a perfect church, we will not find it. We will find a place where we gather for a purpose, loving, serving, worshipping, and giving of ourselves and our gifts to build up the body of Christ.

Prayer

Lord, help us remember that there are no perfect churches, only churches of imperfect people, a work in progress. Help us sharpen and spur one another toward You. Help us seek You with all our hearts and not allow others' actions to make us stumble. Help us not become a stumbling block to others. Help us, in whatever we do, to do all things for Your glory.

Takeaway

We have a kingdom purpose.