February 15 2012

“The Church”
 
Reading: Matthew 16:17-18, 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

It’s truly amazing how the word “church” has taken on so many different meanings, perceptions and/or characteristics over the last 2,000 years since Jesus uttered the word for the very first time as He spoke to Peter in these verses. In all actuality, He didn’t really even use the word “church”. In the original Greek language, the word is “ekklesia”, “ek” meaning “out” and “kaleo” meaning to “call”. Therefore, he was referring to a group of people who were very special, who were “called out”; not the seemingly ambiguous definition that “church” has taken on today where almost any religious gathering in a building could qualify. We… are “called out”. When we are called out, though, we are separate. We are unique. We are different. We have been called out of the crowd… called out of the world. But, are we different? Are we unique? Do we look separate? This is not looking separate like a “commune” or with a special uniform. Jesus spent much of His ministry attempting to break the thought process that its about the outward man, rather, the inward man... your responses... your attitude… your character… your integrity. Are you different? Can the world and those around you see that you have been and are truly “called out”?

What are some ways that you can be different today, to be “called out”?


What one person or group of people tends to bring your flesh out the most? What can you do today to be different?


How can the world see that we have been called out, that we can be different, if we continue to response and act the same way that they do? By the way, if you wait for someone else to be the “better man”, the world does the same thing.
End of the Day Review
  
How were you able to act or respond differently than the world or, possibly, differently than you may normally act or respond today?
 
 
How did this impact you and how did it impact those around you?