Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church … (Eph. 3:20-21).

Glorifying God in the Church…what a novel concept.

Sorry, I don’t mean to be sarcastic–well, I do, but I shouldn’t.

The Church glorifies God when we lift each other up, when we hold each other accountable, when we encourage and teach and carry burdens and generally draw each other closer to the One who has called us all. The world looks at that and thinks, “Whew, they’re a bunch of messed up people, but look at how they love each other! There must be something to this Jesus thing…”

And glory be to God.

The problem, of course, is that too often we approach the Church the way we approach life–we’re here to get, not to give. When we don’t get what we think we are entitled to, it can all get pretty messy. Then the world looks at us and thinks, “Huh, why do I need that? They act just like the folks in my office.”

And the world goes on as before.

Beloved, what version of the Church will we be today? What will we show the world?

Because they are watching.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.