Hint: they are not the same

Growing up, I was a faithful #ChurchGirl (hence the caption on the bottom left of this pic that I made sure to snap + post before going to church).

I was the girl who went to every service with the cutest dress, and a Bible in hand (that I barely read). Yet, no caption ever felt right without a Bible verse. For nearly two decades, I mastered the art of appearing like the perfect church girl in public, though behind closed doors, the truth told another story.

It was as if I left the “church girl” sitting in the pew as I walked out the church doors to my day-to-day life. At the time, seeking God was reserved for only one day of the week, and the rest of the week, I was “doing me”. Though there was a longing for God, this longing never translated into a true relationship with Him. 

Imagine a guy dating a girl, but making no real effort to get to know her. No one-on-ones, no questions, no listening, no admiration, trust me, that relationship will go nowhere fast. 

Because we are spending our time working for God, we can think being in church is synonymous with being in Christ, but that is not the case.

Most people have a stronger relationship with the Church than with Christ. 

Just ask the Pharisees…

We know the traditions of the church. We’ve learned how to speak “Christianese”, dress the part, and could probably lead an entire service ourselves. Yet, deep within there’s a longing, a realization that our fellowship with the Creator is not as intimate as it was meant to be.  

Look at Saul, who later was changed to Paul in Acts 9: he was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He had a zeal for God but no true knowledge of who Jesus was. He thought he was serving God, but when Jesus’ light of truth came to him, Saul answered with:

“Who are you, Lord” Acts 9:5 NIV

He knew God’s name, He was aware of His presence, but He didn’t know Him. After this confession, God opened his eyes to the true Way. Later in the epistles, Paul would write this powerful verse about knowing Christ:

“All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death” Philippians 3:10 GNT

When we know Him, is when we find who we are. Dear friend and reader, you are empowered to seek Him. His Kingdom is not found inside the four walls of a building- it is inside you. 

Confession of faith:

I am a carrier of the very presence of God and He is calling me to know Him. By grace, I obtain the desire to get to know Him through His Word and seek Him for who He is.