We are far away from each other these days, aren’t we? The online experience of church has eerily become the norm. And yet, where and how we meet does not define us as believers nor as a church.
Because, in Christ, we are never truly “far off” from each other. In Christ, we who were far off from God and His promises, were brought near to Him by Christ’s blood (Eph 2:13). And we were all brought near together, members of each other under one Head, Jesus Christ.
And in Christ, we are “one body to God through the cross” (Eph 2:16). We are all “fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.” We are, regardless of physical interaction, “growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built up together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:21-22).
Even from afar, we have “the unity of the Spirit” because by the work of Christ we are “one body” with “one Spirit,” “called in one hope of your calling”; we have “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:4-6). All these “one” statements are true because the gospel is true…regardless of either the quantity or quality of our meetings. The physical reality of meeting together (or not) does not in any way change the eternal, rock-solid reality of our oneness in Christ and His gospel.
We can still encourage and exhort each other in a variety of ways. We’re learning what it really means to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, aren’t we? So, don’t let the lack of physical fellowship detract you from the greater reality of heart-fellowship. Do you love one another? Then great! God’s love is perfected in you, and you are more “one” in His love (1 Jn 4:12).
Remember, God is always working, regardless of how much or how little you meet, or even how well or how poorly your meeting goes. The key in the equation of sanctification is never us; it’s God alone. It’s His truth that sanctifies (Jn 17:17). It’s His Spirit who transforms us (2 Cor 3:18). He is always at work both to will and to work in each believer for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13).
Let that free us from discouragement and frustration to love one another in ways that we might not be used to, but which are in God’s eyes are just as valid as the “normal” ways.
And in the same vein as yesterday’s blog from Jon ~ God used letters (and the prayers represented in them) without physical meetings to transform souls…might He not be able to do the same today?
