By: Bishop Dr. Etta Mhoon-Walker, Ph.D., D. Div.
Tuesday Devotion and Prayer. March 28, 2023.
“No More Church as Usual”“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
As a church body, we’ve abandoned living room gatherings and personal discipleship. While this isn’t surprising, it’s not something we should feel comfortable with! The modern-day church has quickly chosen the following platforms over personal relationships. And chosen to go with surface-level conversation and connection over doing meaningful real-life with others.
But, it doesn’t have to be this way! We need to bring back living room gatherings, personal discipleship, and meaningful relationships. We can see Jesus from His life that these things were deeply important when it came to sharing the gospel. He told us in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The way we get to live this out is by being in real relationships and inviting people in. I mean in our hearts and in our homes. One of the sweetest blessings God has given me is my morning devotion and prayer ministry.
I believed if I can help somebody as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,
If I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong,
Then my living will not be in vain.
If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,
If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought, If I can spread the message as the master taught, Then my living will not be in vain.
My challenge to you is to give God the glory in your homes as we open the doors to host and invite Believers of all ages to spend time with us. No longer can we sit back and think our homes aren’t big enough, pretty enough, or we don’t have the time or capacity.
Whatever lies the enemy has tried to sow, rebuke them in Jesus’s name. If you have a roof over your head, a floor for someone to sit on, and a heart willing to extend an invitation…do it! Be on a mission for God through relationships. Do not delay! Walk in obedience to the Lord and leave the outcomes up to Him!
Heavenly Father, I pray for the confidence to invite people into my home and into my heart to be real with. I pray this will be a year when I see fruit from Godly friendships. Thank you Lord for the way you open doors and make connections with people. In Your son Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
