Monday
Belonging
Read 2 Corinthians 5:20; Mark 10:41-45
Seed Thought: If I belong to something not only do I belong to it but it belongs to me. If something belongs to me then I value it, care for it, and I do everything I can to make it work properly. God did not say we are like a body. God says we are the Body of Christ. We are not made up of one member but many. As in the physical body it takes parts and counterparts to make the body function. We are like that from the minute we are born, and when we are born again connections are made that make us who we are.
If I belong to something then what ever happens to it affects me. When I belong, I no longer long for something else, but, I now belong and my need for belonging is satisfied. Do I have a vested interest in Open Door church and if I do what am I doing to be a part of it’s success? Do I pray for it? Do I Labor in it? Do I Speak for it? People say I belong to Christ and I don’t’ need to be a part of the Body. Without a body a head has no way to function. We are the Body are the Body of Christ. What are we doing with our part of the Body?
The definition of the word church in the Greek is to be a citizen who is called out and called together to do the work of government. We are called out of the world into the church to do the business of the Kingdom of God. The church is to be God’s governing body in the world to bring about the Kingdom of God. God’s governmental representatives are not like this world’s,
but they are called to serve mankind demonstrating God’s love, care and provision of its King.
Action Plan: Reflect on belonging today, Ask yourself, where does my piece in this puzzle fit? If you are not sure as The Helper, He will show you.
Tuesday
Connecting With God And His People
Read Psalms 19:7-11
Seed Thought: We are all on a journey and each of us are at different places in our relationship with God. Some are just exploring who God is and how He can fit into their lives. Some have just begun a relationship with God, while others have been walking with God for a long time. Wherever you are on your journey, God is close by. He longs to have a relationship with you, but won't force you to spend time with Him. As Christians we are connected with God. The greater the connection the stronger the bond is with Him. There are times in our life that we feel distant, lost and lonely, this is not because he has left us, but, many times it because we are busy and we become influenced by the culture we live in. We need direction we need relationship
Connecting with God is not about religion, empty ritual, or mindless ceremony. Connecting with God is all about a relationship -- walking and talking with the God who created you! Spend time in worship and adoration of Him. We connect with God through fellowship with other believers. Fellowship with God and other believers is vital to our existence. We need each other in times of testing and trials; we need each other times of happiness and rejoicing. Connecting with God and other believers is as easy as saying good morning!
Action Plan: Think about this question – When do you feel closest to God? After you have done this list ways that you feel closer to God.
Wednesday
We Are Connected
Read Mark 10:42-45; Ephesians 4:12; 1 Peter 4:8-11
The Body of Christ is exactly like the human body. And as members of that Body, we are all joined together in God-ordained relationships. There are no unnecessary parts. The Bible says the Lord has set every member in the Body as it has pleased Him. We are connected to each other through service Every Christian is called to serve. We are called to work together and people who work together build strong bonds with one another. We don't choose which parts of the Body we have direct relationships with and which ones we have only indirect relationships with. God has made those decisions. But when the Body is working properly, all parts work together, help each other and minister to each other so there is an increase or a building up of the whole Body. We are all servants of God using our gifts to build up the rest of His Body to do the work of the Kingdom. The most important thing in your life is your relationship with God. After that is your relationship with people—your family, your friends and loved ones—and beyond them, your relationships with other members of the Body of Christ.
We must understand the proper ordering and working of our relationships within the Body of Christ because of the effect relationship has on our prosperity. That's right. Relationship is inseparable from prosperity. Remember, the Bible says that proper functioning in each individual part "causes the growth (or increase) of the body for the building up of itself in love" (Eph. 4:16).
Action Plan: Are you connected? What ways are you connected? What are ways that you can get connected? Make a list and get connected.
Thursday
Staying Connected
Read John 15:1-17
Seed Thought: In our world, “staying connected” has perhaps never been easier. TV, Internet, Cell Phones, iPods, Laptops, Blackberrys, Webcams…and the list goes on. Amazingly, though, amidst all of this “connection” we continue to see more and more loneliness and isolation. The question is, “Who and what are we connected to?” Jesus’ words are clear – if we’re not connected to Him, the branch withers and dies. Christ is the connection we all desperately need. Christ’s death and resurrection connects us to God and it connects us to each other. We are friends of God. We make friends in the Body as we relate and give our self to each other. Friends are our equals that encourage us, challenge us and comfort us.
The cross has long been used as a symbol of that connection – the vertical beam of the cross representing our restored connection to the Father through Jesus’ death and the horizontal beam representing our restored connection to each other. The cross keeps you connected to the vine, Jesus Christ. And in Him, you bear fruit and await His coming with confidence, living in faith to God and love toward your neighbors.
Action Plan: Are you connected to the vine? If not ask the Jesus to make the connection. If you are connected ask God to strengthen the connection. Ask God to what do I need to do to stay connected.
Friday
Am I Connected?
Read John 1:35-44
Take today and reflected on the word connection and how it relates to you, God and the body of Christ. Ask yourself Do I belong to something? Am I satisfied? Do I truly belong to the local body and do I have an impact on or within my local church? Do I have a vested interest in Open Door church and if I do what am I doing to be a part of it’s success? Do I pray for it? Do I Labor in it? Do I Speak for it? Am I doing my part?
There are ways you can connect with others. Make a list of those you feel God has been calling you to become connected with. Pray for them. Visit them. Invite them. Help them connect. Partner with them to do the work of the Kingdom. Let’s search for those he is looking for. His Heart Is Our Mission!
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be.
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
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