We are the church

"While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”" Matthew 9:10-13

In a recent article by Runner's World, it was said that the difference between simply running and being a runner was that a "runner" viewed running as more than a sport or form of exercise and more than merely a passion or pastime. A runner, they explained, was someone who made it part of their identity. It was someone who may have started out doing it to get in shape or lose weight but who, over time and miles, ceased to question whether they should go for a run but became a person who just runs. In other words, it became who they were. 

And when it comes to identities, do you realize that there is a difference between going to church and being the church? While most people would define the church as a building where people worship, Jesus defined the church as much more. Consider his answer to the question posed to the disciples by the Pharisees, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" By his response, Jesus described what it means to be the church. It's being people who "eat with tax collectors and sinners", who go outside the walls of the church into the world to help the "sick", love those who are hurting and preach the Gospel to the lost right where they are.

So if identity is defined as who or what a person is and is revealed by their actions, would you say that you are the church? Or that you simply attend church? The distinction is very important my friend. You see it's only when you and I are the church, with our identity firmly planted in Christ, that we can truly impact the world around us. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the example that Jesus left us to follow to reach a lost world. Help us to be those people who go out and reach out to the broken no matter where they might be and share the Gospel. Help us to love and truly care for the sick and the downtrodden. Most of all, help us to be like you. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

We are your church - Celebration Worship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6Rgu_Wg4qU

https://www.runnersworld.com/mile-markers/mile-markers-heres-the-difference-between-running-and-being-a-runner