They will all know me
Photo by William White on Unsplash
One of the things I love about our church is the variety of people who are in it! We have such a rich diverse mix with 18 nationalities represented.
When we gather each Sunday you never quite know what is going to happen in God’s presence. Last week I was leading the sung worship and introduced a new song that I had come across.
It originated from Africa and had that continents energy and feel, with simple yet profound lyrics proclaiming there is no one like Jesus!
After we had sung it (in English), a member of the church stood and said that he had heard this song in Zimbabwe on a mission trip many years ago. He then went on to sing it in Shona, a native Zimbabwean language.
As he sang some Africans in the congregation joined in. We handed them the microphone and they continued to sing it and danced as well. The rest of the church joined in, as best we could! It was a wonderful and moving moment, as different nations worshipped Jesus together.
I spoke to somebody over coffee at the end, who is fairly new to the church, and they said that what had happened was very different to the church they grew up in. They were used to the main leader doing everything.
I explained that in our church we believe that all Christians are able to participate, as we are a ‘body’ and God dwells in each of us. This reminded me of what God said through Jeremiah in the Old Testament…
““This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah said this when Isreal had been invaded and conquered by another country. They were words of promise and hope for a better time to come.
I believe they came true, not just for Israel, but for Christian’s all over the world. I see it in our local church community today!
Each of our wonderful diverse mix of people know God. It’s what we call a ‘personal relationship’ with Jesus. We seek to cheer on and support one another in our walk with God, after all, we are all still a ‘work in progress’.
We are not on our own, but part of a thriving, diverse, loving community where we seek to do life together.
The good news is that you can know God for yourself. And, no matter who you are, or where you are from, there is a church community that you can be part of too!
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader