"Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In His presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him and always thought about the honor or His name." Malachi 3:16 NLT

Over the past ten years God has brought me into the blessings and sweet fellowship with the body of Christ in the church I now attend. I have never before experienced in such a profound way the love of Christ thru a body of believers! And I am so deeply grateful to Him for the incredible gift of the body of Christ and what it means to a believer. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and you are not plugged into a church you are missing out on one of God's deepest blessings.

God never purposed that a disciple of Christ would go it alone. None of us is to be a spiritual lost sheep, God goes after all lost sheep to bring them into the safety of the rest of the sheep. We are never more vulnerable to attack by the enemy who does indeed go around as a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour, as we are when we have not placed ourselves under the God appointed authority of the local church. Of course the local church must be one that confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and proclaim the Word of God as inerrant. Salvation by Christ alone, sins forgiven through the blood of Christ, reconciliation with the Father through the resurrection of Christ.

Christian fellowship cannot be compared to friendships in the world. I realize that we can have friends in the world, and I have some but you can't begin to compare those relationships with those in the body of Christ. It goes way beyond eating, socializing and having fun... It is knowing that if you ever needed help, no matter what kind, you would have it. It is knowing that the other adults not only are watching over their own children but are also taking the responsibility to be good role models for all the other children and youth.

It is having people come along side when you are in the hospital, or you lose a loved one, or you are diagnosed with cancer, you are laid off from work, when your spouse decides they don't want to do this marriage thing anymore, or your child gets arrested for drinking or drugs. The things that separate most friendships in the world, serve to bring the body of Christ together on behalf of the one that is hurting, the one that needs prayers, they have your back you are never alone, except if you want to be.

God's spiritual gifts that are given when you are born again can be seen in any local body of believers. Gifts of service, organization, prophesy, giving, mercy, teaching, and exhortation. All different but given by the same Spirit, many members, one body in Christ and individually members one of another.

Our spiritual connection is the strongest connection there is because within that bond; over, around, and underneath holding all of us together is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Present in every gathering He promises to be there in our midst. I lived too long away from this blessing and I want to live the rest of my life in His presence among the body of believers!

Please, if you and your family do not have a church, where the Word of God is taught and Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, where there are godly staff members, a wonderful children and youth ministry and a pastor that proclaims the truth, please ask God to direct your steps to where He would have you to go and He will! By the way good Bible studies for men and women and a 24/7 prayer room are huge pluses.