8TH NOVEMBER

THE CHURCH BELLS

“Likewise greet the church that is in their house.” (Romans 16:5)

On a weekend visit to Paris, as we got ready to leave for the train station on a Sunday morning, I heard the pealing of church bells and I wished we had been able to get a later train to enable us attend the church service. As the train glided through the countryside, I noticed that every community, no matter how few the houses were, had a church building in the middle, with beautiful church bells. Wow, I thought, France must have maintained a strong Christian tradition!

However, I was shocked to read a 2016 report that France had a 51.1 per cent Christian population, down from an 82 per cent in 1986. I also read that 39.6 per cent of its people were with no religion, up from a 15.5 per cent in 1986. These are people who do not believe in God, any spirit or life force.
France is still said to be one of the most irreligious countries of the world. But about most of its population needs something more than the church buildings and bells. These people need to be evangelised through word of mouth, as well as Christian character and actions.

Sometimes we have a facade of Christianity but the reports of our character leave much to be desired. What of “Christianese” language, especially in Nigeria, where we easily make references to God and Christ in our greetings and interactions, but without such knowledge in the heart?
The church starts in our heart with a love relationship with Jesus who loves us and gave His life for us. Then let the church bells ring in our homes, with our families and of course the church! Let the church bells of our character, actions and the power of God in our lives attract others to Christ

ACTION: Be a Christian in conduct, not just in words or appearance.

PRAYER: Help me, Lord, to faithfully carry out the Great Commission, through my preaching and lifestyle.