It's people that matter. Today would you pray about the relationships in our church? Because let's face it-it's people that matter.

As I continue to study, read, pray, think, and seek the Lord; my thoughts have turned more and more to the people of New Work Fellowship. We can formulate a great plans. We can lay a solid foundation. We can structure for God's Vision. But it is the people who make the difference. Maybe that was the word of the Lord that came to me several weeks back when we were studying Colossians-and I sensed that the Lord was saying there was so much more that He wanted to do in and through us-but we are not ready.

Could it be that it is the relationships that are not yet-ready?

Read Romans 14 with me.

Sometimes we forget that even in the early church it wasn't always smooth sailing. There were disagreements. There were disgruntled congregants. There were disputes. (I'm glad there were, because otherwise we wouldn't have all the wise counsel about how to deal with those struggles).

In Romans 14 there were basically two issues that were tearing at the church: how to worship (acceptable sacrifices) and when to worship (Sabbath or Sunday?). (Kind of funny and sad that the same issues still "rattle the church" ... worship preferences and scheduling conflicts!).

Look at the jewels of wisdom:

• 14:4, "Who are you to judge someone else ..."
• 14:5, "Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind..."
• 14:10, "You then, why do you judge your brother?"
• 14:12, "...each of us will give an account of himself to God."
• 14:13, "...stop passing judgment on one another. Instead make up your mind not to put any stumbling block in your brother's way ..."
• 14:19, "let us make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification"
• 14:20, "Do not destroy the work of God..."
• 14:22, "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God."
• 15:1, "...not to please ourselves..."
• 15:2, "Each of us should please his neighbor for this good, to build him up."
• 15:5, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus..."
• 15:7, "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you..."

Friends, that is some good stuff. Basically this is the idea that in the church; church health is based upon the individual members coming to a place where the "good of the church" ... and the "good of one another" is of far greater value than "what I want."

Would you pray with me that just such a spirit would blow through the lives of the people of New Work Fellowship? That it would be evident, first in each of us that the "Good of the Church" is our highest priority, and that we regularly embody the instructions of Romans 14 and 15.

And then let's join our hearts in praying that the spirit of "His Church First" would ignite a spark that would turn into a raging fire of passion that would spread throughout New Work Fellowship as everyone comes to a spirit of "His Church First".