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Inspirational Article From
Joanne Lowe

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IT’S NOT THE CHURCH

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4: 8 - 12 King James Version

Since God gave me this devotional ministry almost three years ago, I have received several emails asking me where I go to church. Only twelve people have asked me if I am saved in all that time. The most heartbreaking thing to me is that only fifteen people have told me that Jesus loves me. Oh friends, it is not the church that saves us; it is the Lord Jesus Christ. Going to church will never save anybody! It takes the precious blood of the Christ of Calvary applied to our hearts to take away the filth and stench of our sins.

We are to go to church because God said not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. However, it is only a building where we assemble. The church is made up of born again believers. I’m reminded of a pastor friend who told us in one of his sermons about a man who was very active in the church. The pastor said that the man had memorized the entire Bible word for word but he went home after church and beat his wife. If we aren’t living for Jesus when we go home, then we are just putting on a show for others when we meet together.

I think that sometimes we run our churches like a business rather than a place of worship. I have been trying for the last six months to get somebody from some church to visit me or call me. No one has ever called me or come to my home to visit me. The person that answered the telephone at one of the churches that I called said “If you can’t go to church because of your arthritis, how are you going to pay your tithes?” That really hurt me and if it hurt me how much more that statement must have hurt Jesus.

We should be worshipping our Heavenly Father and Jesus when we go to church and not focus all of our time and attention on collecting money. The Bible says “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6: 33) Yes, we are to pay our tithes because God told us to do so, but if we aren’t worshipping our Heavenly Father and loving others when we assemble together we have put tithes ahead of worshipping.

Have you surrendered your heart and life to Jesus? If not, I urge you to invite Him into your heart to be your personal Saviour right now. He will be the dearest friend you have ever known and He will never leave you, not even for one minute. Say yes to Jesus before it is too late!

Joanne Lowe
October 7, 2007

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