About Connections

1 Timothy 3:¹⁵ “I want you to know how people who are members of God’s family must live. God’s family is the church…” (GW, emphasis added).

The church connects you to God’s Family. And your number one responsibility to other members of your local church is to love other members of that church family. 1 Peter 2:¹⁷ “…Love the brothers and sisters of God’s family…” (NCV). This is your first and ultimate responsibility. What is the benefit of being connected to God’s family? The benefit is I am loved and accepted. You have a responsibility to love other people, you may not like them, but you have to love them. You may not like their faces, but you have to love them because that is what God’s Word says.

Traction is all about connections, and connections are held together by love. We see this in Colossians 3:¹⁴ “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” (emphasis added). Life is all about connections. If you are disconnected, you cannot have traction.  “…First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God’s will they gave themselves to us as well” (GNT). It is God’s will that you make both connections – to give yourself to the Lord and to other believers. Note that both are not automatic. You have to give yourself to the Lord and you have to give yourself to other believers.

I have heard people say all sorts of things. Some say they have been hurt, so they are waiting to find the perfect church before they can give themselves to other believers. My advice to you is when you find that church that is perfect in your eyes, please do not join them. Why? It is because the moment you join the church, it becomes imperfect. Perhaps every church should have a sign at its entrance that reads, “No perfect person allowed!” And it is because Jesus is washing His church with the washing of the water by the Word. It is God’s will for you to give yourself to the Lord and other believers. Have you taken these two steps?

In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, because of your connection to God’s eternal temple, you will have stability and support. As you are connected to Christ’s body, you will have life. Everything dead or dying in you is consumed by God’s life. You begin to grow and make progress in the Name of Jesus. And because you are connected to the power of Jesus, God’s power to be fruitful bursts fort in your life. Receive power to be fruitful in every area of your life in the Mighty Name of Jesus. You are connected to God’s family, you are loved and accepted in the Mighty Name of Jesus. The first step is to commit yourself to the Lord.

Prayer: Father, help me to be more deliberate about clothing myself with love and bring value to the connections You have blessed me with, in Jesus Name. Amen!