Longing for our brothers and sisters

Yesterday I helped our dear friends who were our pastor and family pack up to move on to a new adventure to do God’s work in another place. I write this devotion this morning in tears, understanding full well the pain of separation that Paul always felt when called away to build other churches and the pain the church folks felt without him. In all of Paul’s letter his love for the people and their love for him was evident. He would say things like “I long to come and be with you” or I thank God for you in all my prayers”. It is this deep love that the world outside the body of Christ longs for but doesn’t understand. It is this love we are called to share. It has been given to us by Jesus from the moment of our salvation and we are bound together in love by the Holy Spirit of God forever. Whenever believers are separated they will continue to long for the reunion! And there will be a reunion!! 1 Peter 1:3-5 says that through the death and resurrection of Jesus we have an inheritance that can never spoil or fade and is kept for us in heaven and will be revealed to us in the last time. The good news is we will not be separated for long! The day is coming when we will be taken up to be together forever. Both us here and the ones who have gone before us. That is why it is so vital that we share the good news and love of Jesus’ death and resurrection with people so that they too can join us in this glorious inheritance!! There are so many that I long for now for a little while but only for a little while!! Dear God, your plan of salvation, the mystery of the gospel of Christ, is so much more than we can imagine. Thank you for the privilege of serving with my dear friends and bless them in the work you have for them. Thank you for the ones who are with you now that have gone before us that told us about you and give us courage as we share you with others now that they too can come in to the greatest family. Your family!!