Jesus is still building His Church (Mt 16:18). We are the Church, and are therefore under construction. We "are living stones, built as an edifice of spirit" (1 Pt 2:5). We "form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the Capstone" (Eph 2:20). "In Him [we] are being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit" (Eph 2:22). We are not only the building under construction but also co-builders with the Lord (1 Cor 3:9).
What progress have we made in 2009 in building the Church? Are more people on the Rock-foundation of Jesus due to our efforts this year? Has the Lord's Church been strengthened because we have helped others grow in the Spirit? During 2009 have we built the Church both higher and wider? Is the Church more focused on the Lord with greater impact on the world? Through our life in Christ, is the kingdom coming on earth as it already is in heaven? (Mt 6:10)
Many Christians are not being built. Worse still, many are not committed to the building of God's Church. Will you obey the Lord, take on His yoke (Mt 11:29), do His thing, adopt His priorities, and build the Church?
| PRAYER: | Jesus, may I want what You want as much as You want it. May I have Your mind (1 Cor 2:16). |
| PROMISE: | "My mother and My brothers are those who hear the word of God and act upon it." –Lk 8:21 |
| PRAISE: | Theresa builds up the Body of Christ by home-schooling her children and raising them as young Christian warriors to live for God. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College