The Only Thing

One of the questions I have been asking my group of ladies that regularly attend weekly Bible study is, "Is God's Word enough?"  I asked them what their motives are for coming to our church, why are they here, what are they looking for?  Because if we go to church for any other reason besides fellowship that honors God, worship that honors God and humble service that honors God, then God's Word will not be enough.  Unless our motives for going to church are purely centered around seeking God and Him alone, then His Word will not be enough for us.  I put it to them this way:  If our building burned down and we had no music, no pews, no TV monitors, no kitchen, no coffee pot, no nursery, no air conditioning, and all we could do was meet together in the parking lot, would they still be drawn here to assemble together with other Christians simply to worship together, discuss God's Word and learn? 

We have this erroneous idea that we need to look for a church that has a lot to offer us, like we are shopping for the best insurance plan or retirement package.  Like, God somehow owes us the most pleasant worship experience He can muster based on our entertainment-idolizing culture.  Our lives are filled with the empty busyness of daily mundane necessity and the deceptive vanity of selfish pursuits, therefore we reason that anything we expend our "free" time upon must give us the most bang for our buck. 

Yet, on the other side of the world a room full of spiritually hungry Christians meet in a room that possesses a lone, bare light bulb and twenty to thirty metal chairs.  Forsaking all, they meet at the peril of their own lives, craving each other's presence, hungry for God's Word, thirsty for righteousness, compelled to seek each other out, drawn together by the Spirit within them that has sealed them for the day of redemption.  For them, God's Word is enough.  For them, God's Word is everything.  For them, God's Word is the only thing.

"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Eph 4:10)

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb 4:12)

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16,17)

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42)

"The congregation of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned." (Acts 4:32)

"Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who live according to the pattern we set for you. For as I have often told you before, and now declare even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,.." (Philippians 3:17-20)