The body of Christ is too often taken for granted.  We should be thankful for it every day.

Colossians 3:15 (ESV)
¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

The church is a part of God’s eternal purpose.

Ephesians 3:10–11 (ESV)
¹⁰ So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The church was not an afterthought in God’s mind.  It was a part of His redemptive plan from the beginning.  To be a part of the body of people that reveals the manifold wisdom of God in salvation is a great privilege, and only a few, comparatively speaking, are a part of it.  Do not take it for granted.

As members of the body of Christ, it is a blessing to have family almost everywhere in the world.  When I preached in Long Beach, California, a brother from Oklahoma moved to Long Beach.  In making the trip, he did not stay in hotels.  Instead, he contacted brethren in all the cities where he would be spending the night and arranged to stay with them.  This was possible because they were all family, spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ.  The brethren opened up their homes to a perfect stranger because they knew he was a part of the family of God, making him their brother in Christ.  This illustrates the value of the body of Christ.

Without question, the aspect of the church for which we should be the most thankful is in the local sense.  The local church is made up of Christians who agree to work together in specific geographical locations, ideally under the leadership of qualified elders.  The local church is made up of elders, deacons, and saints (Philippians 1:1).  It is in faithful local churches where we can grow, be strengthened, and strive to reach our full potential in Christ.  This is in part because it is in local churches where brethren stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).

The wise man, Solomon, once wrote, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).  Never does this take place more than in a local church where brethren are constantly challenging one another to be better and stronger, and to grow in the faith.

In local churches, we are not just surrounded by others who are striving to sharpen us spiritually, but also by those who deeply care for us; who suffer with us during the most difficult times of our lives, and who rejoice with us in times of joy (1 Corinthians 12:26).

One of the most important aspects of a local church, especially one with qualified elders, is the accountability that it demands.  In faithful local churches, we must live up to the high standards of the gospel or face disciplinary action initiated by the elders and carried out by the entire congregation (1 Corinthians 5:1-13).  This is invaluable.  Most people go astray without accountability.  I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this accountability that is really only found, at least in a real and tangible way, in the local church.

The local church is God’s design for the spiritual well-being of His children.  To be a part of a faithful one is something we should greatly appreciate and never, ever take for granted.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.