English Standard Version
It's pretty easy to lose sight of the last part of Jesus' declaration here -- the gates of hell will not prevail against the church.
Remember this if you're ever tempted to lose hope. Things are often not going the church's way, but the church is an eternal institution with the all-powerful God at its head. The church isn't going anywhere, no matter how many articles may be written about the church being irrelevant. May we rest from anxiety about the future of the church, knowing it is secure in Christ's hands, and may we then take part in our congregations with the joy of knowing we are part of something eternal, and that while individual congregations swell and grow and somethings fade and close, they are joined in the river of the eternal church that goes on forever, and they participate in the life of something far greater than we can imagine. May that give us joy at the privilege of partaking in something so great!
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