Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household ... Ephesians 2:19, NIV

 

The Christian faith was never meant to be a lonely journey, yet many believers today live with the feeling that they stand alone in their faith. Some feel isolated because their faith is not always shared by the people around them. Others become discouraged and think they must be strong enough to handle everything on their own.

 

But the gospel tells a different story. When God saves us, he does not only save us as individuals – but he also brings us into a new family.

 

Paul writes in Ephesians that we are no longer strangers and outsiders. We are not foreigners in God’s kingdom anymore. Through Jesus we have become fellow citizens together with all believers. Even more than that: we are members of God’s household. It is a beautiful picture of the church, which is not merely an organisation or an institution; it is a family.

 

In a family, people do not stand alone. They carry one another’s burdens. They encourage each other when the road becomes difficult. They pray for one another, weep together, and celebrate together. This is how God intended for it to be for his church.

 

Paul uses another image as well: he says that we are like living stones being built together into a temple in which God lives by his Spirit. No single stone forms the building on its own. Every stone has a place, and together they form something far greater than the individual parts.

 

This means that my faith is never only about “God and me.” God calls me to live, grow, and serve him together with other believers. In the congregation we learn to listen to God’s Word together, to pray together, and to share in one another’s lives.

 

Gratitude for the church therefore means that I do not take the congregation for granted. The people sitting next to me in the church pews are not random strangers; they are my brothers and sisters in Christ. We belong to one another and are each other’s keepers because we belong to him.

 

When the world feels uncertain and when faith feels heavy, the church reminds me: you are not walking this road alone, God has given you a family.

 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of your church. Thank you that I do not have to stand alone in my faith, but that I am part of a family of believers. Help me to fulfil my role in this family with love and a spirit of service, to the glory of your name. Amen.

 

 

Julle is dus nie meer ver van God af nie, nie bywoners nie, maar medeburgers van die gelowiges en lede van die huisgesin van God. Efesiërs 2:19. 1983-vertaling

 

Die Christelike geloof is nooit bedoel om 'n eensame pad te wees nie. Tog leef baie gelowiges vandag met die gevoel dat hulle alleen staan in hulle geloof. Party voel afgesonder omdat hulle geloof nie altyd deur die mense rondom hulle gedeel word nie. Ander raak moedeloos en dink hulle moet self sterk genoeg wees om alles alleen te hanteer.

 

Maar die evangelie vertel 'n ander storie. Wanneer God ons red, red Hy ons nie net as individue nie – Hy bring ons ook in 'n nuwe familie in.

 

Paulus skryf in Efesiërs dat ons nie meer vreemdelinge en bywoners is nie. Ons is nie buitestanders in God se koninkryk nie. Deur Jesus het ons medeburgers geword saam met al die gelowiges. Meer nog: ons is lede van God se huisgesin. Dit is 'n pragtige beeld van die kerk. Die kerk is nie bloot 'n organisasie of 'n instelling nie; dit is 'n familie.

 

In 'n familie staan mense nie alleen nie. Hulle dra mekaar se laste. Hulle bemoedig mekaar wanneer die pad moeilik raak. Hulle bid vir mekaar, huil saam en vier saam. So het God dit bedoel vir sy kerk.

 

Paulus gebruik nog 'n beeld: hy sê ons is soos lewende stene wat saam opgebou word tot 'n tempel waarin God deur sy Gees woon. Geen enkele steen vorm die gebou op sy eie nie. Elke steen het 'n plek, en saam vorm hulle iets wat baie groter is as die individuele dele.

 

Dit beteken dat my geloof nooit net oor “ek en God” gaan nie. God roep my om saam met ander gelowiges te leef, te groei en Hom te dien. In die gemeente leer ons saam luister na God se Woord, saam bid en saam dra aan mekaar se lewens.

 

Dankbaarheid vir die kerk beteken daarom dat ek die gemeente nie as vanselfsprekend beskou nie. Die mense langs my in die kerkbank is nie toevallige vreemdelinge nie; hulle is my broers en susters in Christus. Ons behoort aan mekaar omdat ons saam aan Hom behoort.

 

Wanneer die wêreld onseker raak, wanneer geloof soms swaar voel, herinner die kerk my: jy stap nie hierdie pad alleen nie. God het vir jou 'n familie gegee.

 

Gebed: Here, dankie vir die gawe van u kerk. Dankie dat ek nie alleen hoef te staan in my geloof nie, maar deel is van 'n familie van gelowiges. Help my om my plek in hierdie familie met liefde en diensbaarheid te leef, tot eer van u Naam. Amen.