What a glorious privilege to be a member of the church! While many today ask for Christ without His church, we know from Scripture that the church is part of the eternal will of God (Ephesians 3:9–11) and that Jesus thought it so important that He shed His blood for her (Acts 20:28). It is His body (Ephesians 1:22–23; Colossians 1:18), and we are all baptized into that body when we become Christians (1 Corinthians 12:13). We are added to the Lord’s church when we are baptized into Christ, and it is God’s choice that we are a part of His body (Acts 2:47).

Many try to minimize the church because of the human element in it—the element that has so many problems. We are members of the body (1 Corinthians 12) and it is the responsibility of all of us to grow so that the body of Christ can grow as well. Yet, more often than not, Satan has had a field day with some of the members of the church, and this has caused many to turn their back on the church. “If that is what the church and Christianity is all about, I want no part of it.”

Perhaps it is me, but it seems that we have had more than our share of human weakness in the church lately. Rather than “exhorting one another daily” toward greater growth and holiness, it seems that some have become tools in the hands of Satan, and discouraged rather than encouraged. It seems some scandal is tearing the church apart even more, and more are leaving than becoming members of the body.

The solution to these problems and disappointments in the church is a renewed call to simple obedience to the commands of God and striving for the holiness God demands that we have. NOW, more than ever, we need Christians who live the Christian life and who will not compromise their relationship with God for anything in this world. NOW, more than ever, it is time that we remember that Satan is engaged in a no holds barred war, and what he wants more than anything is to take all of us to hell with him. NOW, more than ever, we need to take the battle to Satan and his stronghold, instead of waiting for him to attack, tear up the body and then try to cut our losses.

We need to remember that we are in this together, and we cannot make it to heaven by ourselves. Instead of grumbling about everything, we need to look at the blessings God has given us and be thankful for all the blessings we enjoy. We need to be thankful for God and the great sacrifice of His Son to break the stranglehold of Satan and sin on this world and for His word that is the light to our path and lamp on our way. We need to walk by THAT light, not by our own ideas or ways, and apply God’s message to all of us daily!

What a privilege to be a member of His church. Now, let us do what we can to make our Lord proud of us and live lives worthy of the gospel which has saved us from our sins. Let us do what we can to help others know that gospel and fight to save as many as we can from Satan. We can do no less!