Our readings today help us to love the church where Jesus Christ is Lord. Ezekiel 37 promises that God will give life to dead people and make divided people into one. This is what the Lord Jesus has done for His church. For each of us were dead in our sins, and Jesus made us alive by taking our sin and giving us His righteousness. He connected us to God, and to all those who submit to Christ as Lord. He has made us a new people.
The church is to give expression of this unity, where else do you find such a diverse group of people all united by one thing, our love for the one who has given us life, the Lord Jesus. Psalm 87 also promises people from all nations being brought into the people of God. We see something of the joy of God in assembling all these diverse people, see his delight in v6 “this one was born there.” He loves to see people being brought into His body of covenant people.
He also loves it when His people gather together for public worship on the Lord’s Day. In v2 God tells us “the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling place of Jacob.” God loves us gathering in our homes to worship Him, but He loves it even more when we gather all together for public worship. The gates of Zion refers to the place of the temple, and so God is saying that He loves it when His people gather together. It’s a bit like a family gathering, how good it is when everyone is together, and what pain there is when someone is missing. The Lord loves it when we gather together for public worship, surely that is an encouragement to be at church every week!
Our reading from John 13 challenges us that we will not only turn up eager to meet with God, but we will turn up ready to love and serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus sets the example by washing the disciples feet. This is the job of the servant, and He tells us to do this for one another. The foot washing is an acted parable of the even greater service that Jesus had come to do, to lay down His life for us to create the church. Do you see His love for the church? And Jesus tells us to love each other as He has loved us (v34). What a challenge! We are to be thinking of what is best for each other, how we can serve one another. And wonderfully this has a knock on effect. As we get on with loving one another, the world will see a unity that only Jesus can create. The world should look on and see that we belong to Jesus by the way that we love one another (John 13:35).
How tragic when the church is no different to the world and instead is a place of back-biting and gossip. Why would you want to join that? You can get that in the world. But see a church where the people genuinely love and care for each other and you will see something of the love of Christ. Make sure you are getting to a church like that, don’t miss out on being there every week and see how you can love and serve your brothers and sisters there. The Lord loves such a place.
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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