Gather

What does it mean to you to meet with people you care about? Do you enjoy family gatherings? Is it a joy to meet with close friends for lunch? Are you willing to make a special trip for a class reunion? How do you feel about meeting for worship?

We meet with a variety of people for many different reasons. Family gatherings, especially on holidays, can be a wonderful experience. We catch up with family members we haven’t seen for several days or perhaps weeks. Much food is eaten, stories are told, and there are lots of laughs.

Class reunions can be a joy. Depending on when we were last able to attend one, it may be several years or decades since we have seen some of our classmates. There is a lot to catch up on. We move from one classmate to another to hear what is new with them. Depending on our age, some may be new parents or new grandparents.

When it comes to going to worship, we may choose not to. We may be tired on Sunday morning. We may not want to spend time on Wednesday evening studying Scripture. We may not want to take time out of our Saturday to participate in the event the church is hosting. We make our preferences, worldly things, the priority.

Notice in today’s Scripture that they met together and were glad when they went home. I have personally experienced the need for church gatherings. There was a time in my life that was extremely stressful. It was Sunday School, the worship service, small group on Sunday afternoon, and Wednesday evening Bible study that got me through it. These gatherings recentered me. They gave me strength to continue the course.

It is only by gathering as brothers and sisters in Christ that we can be prepared and strengthened. It is through the care and love of one another we are lifted up. It is by spending time in worship and Bible studies that we lay a foundation we can stand on when troubling times come.

I pray we all choose to spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray we choose to go to worship. I pray each one of us will choose to make gathering with other Christians a priority. Go to worship. Go to Sunday School. Participate in Bible studies. Love and care for one another. Be strengthened by one another. Lift one another up.

Acts 2:46-47 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.