Your Daily Devotional for June 27, 2006

 

June 27, 2006

 

Getting Involved

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

 

Hebrews 10:25

 

On our church’s annual Men and Boys’ Campout, we go to the mountains of central California and have a fun time camping. We usually build a big bonfire at night to help keep warm. One night, as I was watching that fire, I noticed that as the coals fell away from the center logs, the fire began to grow weaker until it eventually went out.

 

God has established the local church to be a place of participation and ministry for the believers. Just as when the coals fall away from logs the fire goes out, so it is with the local church. When believers stop participating in the various ministries of the church, the church begins to die out. We need to get together and participate collectively to reach the common goal: winning souls for Christ!

 

Not only does God want us to participate collectively but He also wants us to participate with a sense of urgency. Notice the last part of our verse today, “…and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” The Lord is going to return to take us believers home with Him so we need to get involved right now!

 

Hebrews 10:37 says, “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”  This isn’t the time to slack off, but we should be even busier as we see the Lord’s return getting closer. You may wonder what you can do to help out in your church. You could sing in the choir, help out in nursery, teach a Sunday school class, drive a bus, or even just help clean the church. There is always something to be done and it won’t get done unless the members of the church come together and work as a team to help accomplish it.

 

Have you ever wondered why geese fly in a V-formation? There are a few reasons why this helps them fly better. First, those in front rotate their leadership. When one lead goose gets tired, it changes places with one in the wing of the V-formation and another flies point. Secondly, by flying as they do, the members of the flock create an upward air current for one another. Each flap of the wings literally creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. One author states that by flying in a V-formation, the whole flock gets 71 percent greater flying range than if each goose flew on its own. Next, when one goose gets sick or wounded, two fall out of formation with it and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with the struggler until it’s able to fly again. Lastly, the geese in the rear of the formation are the ones who do the honking. I suppose it’s their way of announcing that they’re following and that all is well. For sure, the repeated honks encourage those in front to stay at it.

As I think about all this, one lesson stands out above all others: it is the natural instinct of geese to work together. Whether it’s rotating, flapping, helping, or simply honking, the flock is in it together which enables them to accomplish what they set out to do. Friend, we can’t do everything by ourselves. We need to come together and work as a team. As we are getting closer to the Lord’s return, we all need to get involved in different areas of our church. What can you do to help out your church today?

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