And all who believed were together

This past weekend Knoxdale held it’s annual Homecoming Celebration sponsored by our fire company.  What an enjoyable time.  Hometown hospitality at it’s best.  One person from outside the area was overheard saying ‘you know, this is how life should be’.  She of course was referring to the simplicity and congeniality of the event.  Barbecued chicken and pork sandwiches, watching a 3 day one-pitch softball tournament and the annual gun raffle.  Life doesn’t get too much more idyllic and that is a good thing.

From a personal perspective, I spent two afternoons getting re-acquainted with old friends and neighbors, some I haven’t seen in 15 years.  I also counted it a great privilege to meet new friends from the community, especially those of the faith.  For you see, we as a church participated in the community church service on Sunday morning, held jointly with the Knoxdale and Mead Chapel United Methodist churches and their Pastor, Reverend Les Hutchins.

I was reminded during the church service of the New Testament church in Acts chapter 2 where it was said of them that ‘all who believed were together.’  All who BELIEVED were together.  This is the church, it is not confined or defined by ecclesiastical boundaries or denominational edict but it is declared by scripture to be ‘all who believed’.   Believed what?  They believed that Jesus Christ was who He said He was, God incarnate, and did what He came to do, to seek and to save the lost.  They believed that Jesus provided eternal life to all who believe by becoming sin for them, when He himself was blameless of all sin, so that they, the undeserving, might enjoy a right relationship with God Himself.  They believed that it was apart from their works that they were made part of the church.  They believed it was all of Christ.  They believed Jesus when He said, repent and believe the gospel.

It was a great weekend in Knoxdale.  Not only because it showcased our little slice of Americana but it allowed those who professed Christ as Savior and Lord to gather together.  Yes, ‘you know, this is how life should be’.

Soli Deo Gloria

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