Weekly Devotional 11-6-17 Are Our Efforts Fruitless Efforts
In many countries of the world there has been a steady decline of church attendance. Many are beginning to ask, “Are Our Efforts Fruitless Efforts?” Certainly here in the United States, every denomination is seeing a decline in attendance. There is a lack of interest in spiritual matters in the younger generations, and many of the older generation are losing heart. As the number of younger persons who attend church declines, the burden of keeping local assembly’s viable falls upon those of the older generation. Many of them are in their seventies, eighties and nineties. Not only are these persons hampered by age and declining health, but also by limited incomes. As membership declines, the need for financial support of the church increases. The natural result is doubt and discouragement. We begin entertaining the thought that all is in vain, our efforts are fruitless. But is this true?
Perhaps we should keep in mind that every time a local church closes its doors it loses its testimony in the community where it is located. We may maintain a personal testimony, but the greater impact is the corporate testimony of a local church. Think for instance of a church and other buildings standing side by side in a community. The buildings house products of varied sorts that are known by the community. The church likewise houses a commodity, Christians. It is known by the community that within are persons who have a relationship with Jesus Christ. The building and persons in it represent Jesus. Remove the church from the community and that light, that testimony, is gone. The church is a beacon of spiritual virtue. Remove it, and that beacon is gone.
Let us, who are “born again Christians”, strive to keep the doors open for as long as possible. We are being used of the Lord in holding back the spiritual darkness that overcomes every community where there is no spiritual beacon. This means, however, that we must return to loving the Lord as we first did. Consider for instance the Lord’s message to the church recorded in Revelation 2:1-7. “1To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent. 6But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
We note from Revelation chapter 1, that Jesus was seen by John walking in the midst of seven churches of his day. This means that Jesus was and is the Lord of the church. (The seven named churches, while all local, are representative of the entire church). Jesus commanded that John write unto the church giving Jesus’ view of what was happening the church. He informed the church that He knew that they had lost their intense love for Him. That they were to repent and return to that love. Even though they were doing many valuable things, those things were not predicated on a love for Him. If they did not repent and return, Jesus said He would close the church’s doors and remove their testimony from the community.
Perhaps if the church were to return to its first love of Jesus He would bless its endeavors and its light would shine brightly. It would then be fruitful and draw persons to it. Just a perhaps, but something we each should consider. Lord help me, help us, to love you as we ought.
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man