“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” (1 Cor 12:12) God never meant for you to go through life on your own. He wants you to be part of His family — the Church. In fact, the Church has been God’s plan from the very beginning. Some people think of the Church as a building, an institution, or an event you attend. The Church isn’t any of those things. It’s a family you belong to.
The Bible says, “He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will.” (Eph 1:5; AMP). When you are part of the Church, two things are true of you: You are committed to Jesus, and you are committed to the people in your church family. “Not only [did they give materially] as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His representatives] by the will of God [disregarding their personal interests and giving as much as they possibly could].” (2 Cor 8:5; AMP). The first choice makes you a Christian. The second one connects you with other believers. I’m not the Church, you are not the Church, but together, we are the Church —the Body of Christ. What does it mean to be part of the Body of Christ? To understand how the Church operates, look at how God designed your body. Your hand, nose, and liver are all parts of your body. They all have separate functions, but they make up one physical body together, just like God’s Church makes up one spiritual Body. That’s why you are such a necessary part of your church family. You can’t say, “My part, my talents and abilities aren’t needed.” There are no unnecessary parts. We are all dependent on each other, and each has a different role to play. From the very beginning of time, God intends that we live our lives together in His family.
If you want lasting change, you must fill your life with love. Love is the only thing that can change the unchangeable. Love heals, uplifts, strengthens, energizes, refreshes, and renews. Love is the most potent force in the universe because 1 John 4: 8 says, “God is love.” As a Christian, where do you find this kind of love? In a community with other Christians.
God wired the universe in such a way that we need each other. I need you, and you need me. The phrase “one another” is used 58 times in the New Testament. It says things like love one another, care for one another, encourage one another, support one another, pray for one another, and greet one another. God never meant for you to go through life by yourself. The Bible says in Romans 12:4-5, “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.” What does it mean to “belong to each other”? It means you need the people around you, and they need you. You become each other’s spiritual family. You help each other toward your goals and encourage each other as you become more like Christ. The Bible is clear about what love looks like in a spiritual family. “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other.” (Rom 12:9-10; NLT; emp added).
Scriptures.
I belong, entirely and forever. (Rom 14:1-12).
I belong because He paid my debts. (Hebrews 9:23-24).
I belong; therefore, He watches Over Me. (Matt 10:29-31, Rom 8:28, Ps 121).
I belong, so I live for Him. (Rom 8:12-17 and Gal 5:13-25).
