And let us consider
how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up
meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one
another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching
So attending and participating in a church service is not
all about me? It’s not all about getting what I want, hearing what I want, and
then running off to my car to beat the crowds out of the parking lot? Bingo! God
has blessed us with the opportunity to gather as a group of common believers to
worship him. God has blessed us to live in a country where we can worship
openly without the fear of being tossed in jail or even killed. God has
promised that where two or three gather in his name, he is actually there with them
(Matthew 18:20). When we gather at a church each week, or in a bible study
during the week, we are gathering to not only soak in the Word of God and grow
individually, but also to help build up each other, so that others may grow
spiritually as well. And believe this…God is actually there in the room with
us! One of the most incredible things about a group of common believers is how
God transforms that group into a true family of believers. It’s amazing how God
can fill the room with so much love and peace that you start to actually see
each other as family. You move beyond the cordial smiles and generic greetings
and actually interact with others in a meaningful manner. You become invested
in each other’s lives, you look forward to hearing about the events in each
other’s lives, and you help build each other up when things are not going so well.
Being a part of a church body goes so far beyond just attending a worship
service together and going through the motions. God intends for us to develop relationships
with each other…He intends for us to support one another…He intends to use us as
instruments of his love, to love each other as he loves us. What a privilege we
have, to not only worship openly and freely, but also to be a source of
support, encouragement, and peace to the body of believers that we gather with
each week. May we seek out opportunities to love those that gather with us each
week, investing in each other’s lives, and basking in the presence of the Almighty
Lord! To God alone be the glory!
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