"My life mission is the faithful and strategic stewardship of my God-given gifts and resources to bless my family, the community of God's people and the nations." - Rev. David W.F. Wong.

The mission of Owlnook.com is to make available such resources that will bless users and readers with a deeper understanding of the Word of God and a closer walk with the God of the Word.

  
 

 
  • FREE Daily Devotionals and Weekly Sermons by email
  • FREE Online Counselling from Rev. David W.F. Wong
  • FREE Prayer support from Owlnook.com Subscribers
  • FREE Access to Archived Devotionals and Sermons

SUBSCRIBE NOW TO RECEIVE THE ABOVE BENEFITS!

  
  
DAILY DEVOTIONAL


Thought For The Day
MAKING IT OUR HOME Heb 10.24-25

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together.... ".

If you are attending one church while keeping your membership in another, you are not being fair to both. You receive blessings from one to which you owe no obligation, and you neglect responsibility to the other which deserves your loyalty!

Or you may not be a member of any church. Then you need to ask yourself whether you can claim to belong to the Head of the Church that is Christ without also belonging to the Body of Christ which is the local church. After some time, you should decide where you belong. But how do you know when you have found a church to make your spiritual home? May I suggest three criteria:

Firstly, you should be satisfied with the doctrinal integrity of the church. The church must be preaching and teaching the Word of God. It must have a clear doctrinal position anchored in the Scriptures. You know you are in a theologically "safe" environment and will be spiritually fed.

Sometimes, you may not agree with some denominational distinctives (especially if you have been brought up differently). For example, the church may practise infant baptism which you do not endorse. Then you must decide whether it constitutes an issue major enough for you to look for another church. If not, you should accept the practice of the church, though your private conviction may remain different.

Secondly, you should be comfortable with the fellowship of the church. This refers to the people (e.g. an age range compatible with yours), and the way they do things (such as the form of worship). As you plan to belong with the church, it should be a place where you will find peers and cultivate life-long friendships in Christ.

When you join a church, you should respect the way things are done in the church, since it was there before you came. However, suggestions to improve things, made constructively and lovingly, are surely welcome.

Thirdly, church-going is meaningful only when there is a sense of involvement and commitment. You should therefore be convicted about a role, however small or large, you can play towards the building up of the church. Nothing is too menial for the Lord and we should be ready to begin with simple tasks as they are made available to us.

If you have been regularly worshipping in a church for sometime, and are still not a member of it, you should begin to consider seriously making it your home.

[Back to top]