“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Memory of the month: And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" —Luke 24:32
Today's reading: NUMBERS 32-34 MARK 9:30-50
Been To Church Lately?
Christian researchers tell us that a lot of people who have stayed out of church for covid will not go back and it could be an elephant in the room for some, so, let's talk about it.
The Bible is very clear. Hebrews 10:25 say this:
"Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Going to church is not as important as what we do in church. But, first, what is 'going to church'? It took many years before the first Christian church was built for the purpose of worshipping. Before a building the 'church' or the body of Christ met in homes and in fields and secluded places where the folks could break bread and pray and study together.
Acts 2:42 ►They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Out of the four things mentioned: Apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer...
There is one that cannot be done alone-fellowship. Being together with other believers in Christ is essential. It does not have to be done in a 'church building; but it is essential to corporate worship that God desires.
Matthew 18:20 ►For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.…
We have been inhabited by the Holy Spirit. He is with us always. So what does Jesus mean "I will be with them"?
We cannot argue that even the divine, personal presence is with each believer nor can we deny that Jesus means that He brings His special presence to us when we meet together in His name- a special presence that we cannot know alone. How is this?
It is because His love flows in and through us to each other and this cannot happen when we are alone. Yes, His love is always with us and in us but we cannot feel this special fellowship of His love unless there is fellowship of at least two of us.
Two of us get together in Jesus name to worship. If what we do is so very important, and it is, what is worship?
Studying the scripture is one thing and our hearts must be right before Him so we can experience His righteous teachings and really learn from His word and He obviously wants us to learn together because iron sharpens iron.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
What does 'fellowship' actually mean? It must mean to be Christlike toward one another or to love as Christ does-to accept as Christ does. With Jesus with us-to love freely in His peace and righteousness.
Breaking bread means communion as it is described in scripture. It also includes fellowship as we serve each other. It humbling ourselves before each other and God.
Prayer is prayer. This means we are clean before God because we have confessed our sins to Him. When we are clean we can sing and speak His praises to Him and to each other.
Revelation 5:8-14
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
Kings and priests who reign. What do we reign over? The faith that has been gifted us by God, the abundant life gifted us by Christ-it is a reign of humility where we yearn to be together if only by a couple at a time to share in worship of the only one worthy of worship-our God, the eternal one who yearns to hear our voices lifted together.
One other thing: I believe that God wants us to have great corporate worship experiences so that we will yearn to have great personal worship. The solitary worship experience brings yearning for corporate worship which brings yearning for personal worship and it continues as we grow in love for our Lord and His family.
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven,
I confess my heart is falling short of real worship. I want to worship you with all I am alone and all we can together as Your Body. Build my resolve to live in this worship for Your kingdom and Your glory and good pleasure.
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