Daily Devotion
How to Behave in Church
“That thou mayest know how…to behave…in the house of God.” 1Ti 3:15
The church is like a garden; it has great potential for growth and beauty. But cultivating a garden calls for time and labor; it also requires being on the lookout for weeds and pulling them up before they grow and kill your plants. Two of the most common weeds in the church are: (1) Favoritism. “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel” (Ac 10:34-36 NIV). Peter, who struggled with prejudice, said, “I now realize…that God does not show favoritism.” How about you? Do you realize that too? Or do you mix only with “your own kind”? Cliques in church are high treason to the King of Kings. If there’s one lonely soul in your church, you have work to do! The Bible says that God “gives families to the lonely” (Ps 68:6 TLB). When people are shy, wounded, insecure, or lacking in trust, you must reach out and bring them into your circle of fellowship. (2) Gossip. “Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters” (Jas 4:11 NLT). When you hear gossip about someone, stop it dead in its tracks. Unless you are willing to talk directly to the person, don’t talk about them. And don’t let anybody else talk about them either. Gossip is the art of saying nothing, and leaving nothing unsaid. If you want to promote harmony in the family, don’t indulge in it.
