In the past five to six months the world and our nation went through a wide-spread spiritual shaking. Churches across the nation, along with other parts of the world shut down. This transitioned church to be streamed online and in the homes of many families.
Physically being at church is a beautiful experience by being surrounded by other members in the body of Christ. Worshipping and praising God with other Believers, and hearing a powerful sermon from a passionate pastor about the Gospel leaves you on a spiritual high. However, after a beautiful Sunday service leaving individuals feeling great and encouraged, it slowly fades throughout the week, because many Christians don’t carry church into their homes.
Being a Christian is oftentimes, negatively denoted as religious, which is not necessarily wrong, but being a Christian is a relationship between You and God the Father, through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). With that being said, as Christians we need to not only rely on Sunday service sermons to get us through. We have to pick up our own bible and do our own studies, and read for ourselves to get deeper knowledge of the Word of God. The ability to have a committed walk with God is what will carry you throughout the week. My dad has this phrase that my brothers and I often use when we do our own individual bible studies which is “daily dose of the Holy Ghost.”
Earlier I said ‘Christians don’t carry church into their homes,’ and what I mean is that many Christians just rely on Sunday services to feel good and get their knowledge of the bible on that day only. What many Christians find it hard to do, is carry that same energy into their homes. The ability to get on your knees and fully surrender in worship to God at your house. Reading and hearing God for yourself is a practice that all Christians should be doing to strengthen their relationship with God and to increase their knowledge of the Word of God.
In the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25, this is a great example of when Jesus returns, and some will be prepared and some will not. Five virgins were prepared and the other five virgins were unprepared, when entering the wedding banquet (Kingdom of Heaven). The five prepared virgins who were ready when the bridegroom (Jesus) arrived were able to go into the wedding banquet with Him. The five who were unprepared were late and when they knocked on the door, the bridegroom, said “Truly, I tell you, I do not know you.”
This parable speaks so many volumes because the virgins are us- Believers. The question we have to answer is “Am I prepared for the day when Jesus comes?” This is one of my favorite parables because it is a constant reminder for me and my walk with God. I do not want to be unprepared, or stand before the gates of heaven and not be able to enter because I never had a relationship with God.
This pandemic has forced us to take church into our homes to show many of us that it doesn’t just stop on Sunday, we can usher in the presence of the Lord into our houses everyday, any hour, anytime and any place.
Growing up, my parents were heavily involved in ministry and as my siblings and I grew up, my parents started to shift their focus onto their first ministry – their kids. My parents always made it a point to have family bible studies throughout the week. From a young age to now, my parents have raised us to continue our walk with God outside church doors and into our daily lives throughout the week.
In Revelation 3:20, the verse literally talks about how Jesus is knocking and seeking us and those who hear it and open the door, Jesus will come and dwell and dine with them. I encourage all those reading, to open the door for Jesus, so He can dwell and dine with you. Invite Him into your lives, your home, your circumstances, your relationships, etc.
Continue to grow in your own daily, devoted walk with God and stay encouraged! Our faith journey is long and we will continuously be dealt with trials and tribulations but it is through Jesus Christ we are able to overcome, we just have to let Him take control.
Written by Keilani Mayo