Ten Reasons Why We Should Love The Church - #6

Good morning and I pray what is the start of a great week!  In continuing this little series on why we should love the church, I find it appropriate to make this sixth entry on a Monday.  For we might be prone to think of the church little, seeing that we were just together yesterday.  But let us keep the church on our hearts and minds even today.  

Thus far we have see five of ten reasons why we ought to love the church:

1.  Loving the church brings glory to God

2.  Loving the church demonstrates faithfulness to the Word of God

3.  Loving the church is one of our greatest witnesses to the world

4.  Loving the church unity in the body of Christ

5.  Loving the church stimulates meaningful and vibrant corporate worship of God.

 

And now for number six...

 

6. Loving the church generates solid and biblical edification!

To read the letters of 1 and 2 Thessalonians is to see that Thessalonica was one of Paul most dearly loved churches.  Not only did Paul express His love toward the people, but clearly the people demonstrated love one for another.  And, as  a result of this love, Paul expressed words of encouragement and commendation.  We read in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 these words...

³ We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; ⁴ therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

The point is this, that as Christians rightly love one another, it will generate a desire to see one another built up (edified) in the faith. Is this your experience?  Is this your desire?  Who might you encourage today in the things of the Lord, thus demonstrating your love for that person as well as for the church?