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Jesus is Lord.
Jesus is the head of His body the church. Jesus doesn’t abuse his body; He might put it on a diet, but only for better health.
The church of 2021 will not be like the church of 2019 because in 2020 the body of Christ is on a diet. The church might lose some unnecessary buildings and programs. The emphasis on a great worship team could be lessened to a guitar player along with a keyboard player.
After a diet you feel better. That’s what I hear from those who have shed 20 pounds. In 2021, don’t be surprised if church worship feels better, songs are written by many churches, and miracles released.
Members of the body are considering whether they need to worship with others. Assembling was optional in 2019. Collectively, because of 2020, in 2021, church building attendance may dip by millions.
The body of Christ is simply that – a body. A body doesn’t function well operating by itself, the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12. The ear of the body should not only listen to a podcast. The leg won’t run for the long sitting on a couch week after week. Social media does not suffice for preaching. And two arms raised alone seems just that – lonely.
After the diet of 2020, the church around the world will be united locally and corporately in ways unimagined.
The revival of 2021 will come from fasting in 2020.
Jesus taught discipleship – the commission He gave His church. In 2021, the church will be leaner; the softness of non-c0mmitment gone. Lesser in numbers, yes, but not for long.
The church may be unpopular in 2021. There is a hard edge to the love that Jesus taught. Sinners are forgiven, but the unrepentant spend eternity out of the presence of God.
The body has a message of salvation.
As those who persecute the church find out, and as those who follow Jesus discover, the church thrives when being unpopular. The greatest growth comes from persecution. The willingness to die and sacrifice for Christ in 2021 arrives after we shed the pounds of lust, ambition for worldly success, and the heavy weight of materialism that we carried in 2019.
In 2019, families were distracted. Parents were busy, children busier. Devotions, conversations about Jesus, and prayer – all needed, and all wanted, and all wistfully sorry that it wasn’t happening.
Malachi – the last book of the Old Testament – the last chapter in the last book of the Old Testament – the last few verses of the last chapter of the last book of the Old Testament – predicts that the hearts of the fathers (and mothers) will be turned to their children in the last days.
The great diet of 2020 is predicted in Malachi 4:5-6!
Our diet could be over this month, with only a few pounds lost, and then quickly recovered in a 2021 busyness that reflects 2019.
Most diets end this way.
Have we lost the weight intended by our Lord yet? The last pounds lost in a diet are the most difficult. I have a discernment that the church needs to shed a few more pounds in 2020.
It’s good. We are the body of Christ and He is the head. Be at peace. God desires our best. We will feel better.
After the diet of 2020, in 2021 the church will have an Acts 2 body. Luke describes us as, “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily.” (v. 47)