For those who may have missed our Covenant Sunday service last month, I want to use my space in this month’s newsletter to reiterate the words of gratitude that I shared that morning:
I’m very, very thankful to be in covenant relationship with every single member of Rockdale Community Church. It is a true joy to be a member of this local church. I am deeply grateful for the obvious commitment that the overwhelming majority of you have to this body. I pray for the handful of people whom we haven’t seen lately, some for a very extended time, and I pray that they would re-engage or at least answer our attempts to contact them and let us know what’s going on.
I’m very, very thankful to be identified with the members of RCC as God’s people in a real, solid, “official” way, beyond just my saying, almost as an afterthought, that I’m identified with you simply because I’m a Christian. Let’s not be mistaken. I am identified with every believer here because I’m a Christian. But that would be true if I were talking about believers in China, whom I probably won’t see before I get to heaven. But the commitment of my covenant membership at RCC shouts loudly and clearly, “I’m glad and thankful that I am a part of this specific group of Christians. This defined, structured, objective, numbered, specific group of people known as Rockdale Community Church.” I didn’t choose you. God chose you for me. God knew I would need you, and in love for me He put you in my life and in my family’s life. And I thank Him with all my heart.
I’m very, very thankful for the accountability that comes with covenant membership. I’m glad that I am not a solitary pilgrim travelling alone on the road to the New Jerusalem. I’m happy to submit to my fellow elders, and I thank God for the spiritual oversight that they provide for my life. In our last elder meeting I asked for and received positive, helpful, edifying feedback of the pulpit ministry. I thank God for that.
I’m very, very thankful that I can say, in the spirit of King David in Psalm 16:3, “As for the members of RCC, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” I pray with all of my heart that every member of RCC can say that.
Ponder these beautiful words from Sinclair Ferguson in his encouraging book, Lessons From the Upper Room:
Because “Christ is all, and in all” (Col. 3:11), the fellowship of Christians transcends all natural and social distinctions and divisions. When Christ is all to us and we recognize that He indwells each of us by His Spirit, a bond of fellowship and love is created that is unparalleled in the world. The reason is simple: those who experience it are not “of the world” (John 17:16).
Ferguson continues:
That is why, although we retain our diversity of nationality, skin color, age, education, social background, and much else, we are one in Christ. The result is that our “differences” only serve to highlight the beauty of the unity of grace that prevails.
Praise God for the unity of grace that prevails at RCC! May it grow and deepen, for our good and His glory!
I love my church family! I look forward to continuing our study of the names of Jesus and to celebrate with you another Reformation Sunday at the end of the month.
Pressing on with you with our eyes on Jesus,
Pastor Butch
