Good Habit 5: Care and Belonging
This week we are looking at the habits of Growing Congregations.Here's the fifth one...
| Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good... ...Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. (Romans12:9-16) |
It is with these significant words that Apostle Paul, the writer of Romans, concludes the chapter. He is indicating to the Romans something so vital that necessitates our spiritual growth, and what also seems to be an amazing anchor for the growth of the church. Paul's burning passion was to strengthen the lifestyle of the believers and today's passage shows us that he was intentional about addressing how we ought to live as followers of Christ. It is significant to notice that the task of the church today is not just reaching out and preaching the gospel to the unsaved but also to seeing that the believers become established in their faith. We must become robust and healthy followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here are some healthy habits of growing God's Church.
- A Church dwelling in love.
The church of God must reflect the love that God has shown. As we extend this love to others, we must really understand what kind of love God has. God's love is unconditional, a love that is seen on our good days and bad days, even when we don't feel it, God's love is always there with us. And therefore, as we live in our communities and reach out to many unsaved people, let's carry with us the experience of the love of God. 1 John 4:7-9: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. " - A Church that is Spiritually fervent
Being fervent in the Spirit as a Church drives home an understanding of having an intense but yet steady and passionate devotion to God. This is so important for us as a Church to realise the importance of being spiritually fervent. It helps us to have a spiritual energy that doesn't promote laziness as we minister to others the gospel of God even though we may be doing this in the face of opposition and affliction. Being joyful and faithful in prayer are qualities of being fervent in the spirit. - A Church that is accommodating
We are surrounded with different personalities as a Church; those who persecute or challenge the truth of the gospel, those who are mourning, the needy but yet we should be intentional with how treat those around us. The church is encouraged to live in harmony and show a godly conduct to others.
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My name is Robert Chawinga, Pastoring the congregation of Kaunda Square within the Presbytery of M'chinga which is under the Synod of Zambia were we serve with my beautiful wife Sibongile and we have an amazing son together.
