Good morning people who are joined to the body for the right reasons.

There’s more in our scripture from the last few days. Let’s lean in further.

Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

I want to look at the stated purpose of us being joined together and built together in Christ.

Most problems arise in church when people don’t get their needs met. Some of these needs are very real and there has been a lack of care that needs to be rectified. Many times though, the needs are nothing more than self-focused desires that come down to a difference of taste and style (that’s the honest truth).

And yet Paul writes clearly to the church – of which you and I are a part of – that the purpose for our connection as living stones is so that we will become a holy temple in the Lord and become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.

Can you see how different this focus is?

We have made the church far too much about us, and it is about God! Our greatest desire should not be about being noticed, used, or promoted. Our greatest desire, focus and pursuit should be to become holy, even as Christ is holy (1 Peter 1:16). Our greatest desire, focus and pursuit should be to be a dwelling place where God loves to live by His Spirit!

What would happen if every person shifted the focus from being noticed to being holy?

What would happen if every person shifted the focus from them feeling like it is home to God feeling like it is home?

What would happen if ‘God increased and we decreased’? (John 3:30).

It’s time for greater health in the body of Christ as we all become healthy living stones.