WATCHWORD:
20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:20-25
Meditation:
Being There
Has the Pandemic instilled in us new habits that have devalued the importance of being in church to worship. Has the frequency with which you would rather watch streaming of a service, increased, rather than get back into the habit of going to church and being there?
Not being in church on a Sunday morning for worship was a foreign idea to me growing up the son of a congregational Christian minister. I was unaware of how instilled that habit was until attending church was not an option. For so long we worshipped in our living rooms, then it was attending worship service scattered, with no singing, and always with masks. Now we can attend church services, almost as we have done in the past, but for the most part masks are still required. It feels better and maybe it is better. Being there is good.
In a recent Our Daily Bread the question was raised, “Why do we go to church?” The answers to that question were many and varied, but one that struck a responsive chord came from author Kathleen Norris. She tells of a response she received from a pastor to that question. He said, “We go to church for other people. Because someone may need you there.”
Very recently, travel and circumstance have prevented me from attending worship, in church. Devotionals, Scripture and prayer helps, but it is not the same. My church is struggling and many of those we thought were part of our congregation over the years, seem to worship elsewhere. Something vital is missing in their absence.
That pastor’s response to the question is what the writer of Hebrews was communicating. He urged believers to persevere in faith and not to give up meeting together. He reasoned that their presence would encourage one another toward love and good fellowship.
We should not miss the spiritual power of being there. A big part of worship is the congregation, the fellowship, people encouraging one another in our mutual faith. Never underestimate the importance of your presence to others…and to yourself. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
What are the top reasons you either go to church or don’t go? How does knowing someone may need you there make you feel about meeting for worship?
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, As I meet with others to worship and praise Your name, help me to also encourage others in Your name. Forgive me, Lord, when I overlook the latter because I’m too preoccupied with myself, when my own comfort or laziness leads to absence from worship. Instill in me, Lord, the importance of worshiping you in spirit, and in truth, and in fellowship. Amen
