December 30, Membership Has Its Privileges

Today’s reading: Psalms 146-150

“Extol the Lord, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion. He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat” - Psalm 147:12-14.

God is not only concerned for the individual, singular you. He is also concerned for the corporate you, which in modern terms is you as a part of the local church. Paul wrote 13 epistles, four of which were addressed to individuals and nine to churches. They all outlined theological issues and expected behavioral norms for the body of Christ in general. In today’s verses, the psalmist was addressing Jerusalem as a whole, describing how the Lord would bless the residents of the city with security, peace, and provision. There was a credit card company that once had a slogan, “Membership has its privileges.” The same can be said for involvement in a local church, where as a member you are expected to contribute your finances and spiritual gifts in return for God’s blessings. Paul wrote this about your involvement in the church: “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up” (1 Corinthians 14:26). Are you coming together with other believers for prayer, worship, and Word ministry? Are you acting in the best interests of your church, building up the body of Christ through your presence? What blessings have you received for doing so?