WHERE WOULD JESUS GO?

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

Jesus talking to Simon Peter: "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18

Jesus speaking to his disciples: "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20

WHERE WOULD JESUS GO?

Bill and I took a couple of days and got out of town. While driving, I noticed many churches. They were labeled by denomination: Lutheran, Church of God, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Christian, Seven Day Adventist, Jehovah Witness and Brethren.

They were labeled by other names: Full Gospel with healing service, Restored, Pentecostal, Reformed, United, Community, Missionary, Evangelical and Independent.

Some church names include words: Hope, Faith, Love, Peace and Grace

Some buildings you knew were churches. They had a steeple, a cross or some other symbol on them that illustrated their beliefs. I had Bill turn into one church so I could take this picture.

I can remember a church poster we saw when we were in a small town in Stewart, British Columbia, Canada. It started out saying, "All welcome." Then it gave the name of the church. Followed with, "King James version only." Followed with a few more specific beliefs. By the time I had read the entire poster, I realized not all were welcome.

Thinking about that poster and all the churches we saw on our drive, I wondered, "Why can it not just be called The Church? Why cannot our statement of faith just be I Believe?"

Thinking about that poster and all the churches we saw on our drive, I wondered, "Where would Jesus go?" What church would Jesus attend? How would he decide? Would Jesus be comfortable sitting in the pew of a Methodist Church? A Catholic Church? A Reformed Church? Would any of these churches resemble what Jesus instructed Peter to build?

For all of our differences. For all of our different names. For all of our different creeds and statements of faith. Where would Jesus go? This is answered in the scripture. We know that Jesus goes "where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Remember when you go to church, Jesus is there. Make Him feel welcome.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

How would you answer the question, "Where would Jesus go?" Would Jesus be comfortable sitting in the pew of your church?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Jesus, As believers, we allow mission statements and church doctrine to come between us instead of being united in our common beliefs. Jesus, as I work, play and live let me see the common areas of our faith instead of the small areas that separate us. Jesus, I am working to have the faith of Peter when he said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." When I work for the church, let me work in such a way that You would be welcome and when you enter you would feel at home.… Amen