Friday, August 30, 2013
Something To Consider About Gathering Together
In Hebrews 10:25 we see a scripture that is often quoted that says we are not to keep ourselves from assembling or coming together to meet with other believers. There are other places in the scriptures that talk about the topic of the benefit of being with others of the faith. It can help us to stay the course, to keep moving forward, to try to live our lives in the Messiah. It is this possibility that is the point of today’s writing. When we say it can help, that also implies it may not help.
If we back up to verse 24 we something that is not often quoted but is equally important and comes before the direction to not forsake gathering together. In verse 24 we are instructed to consider each other in a manner that brings out love and good works in us all. This instruction defines what should be happening when we come together. But is it? I have personally experienced (and hear from many believers) times at various churches where the actions of the believers are more like the kids in the “in crowd” in school than loving adult followers of the Messiah. The characteristics of the environment that provokes believers to love and good works is one in which each and every person is made to feel like they belong. For example, do we all have the same opportunity to share our gifts, or are some held back, singled out for restriction, or even perhaps the the subject of much discussion by “concerned Christians” just trying to “keep everyone up to speed so they can pray” for certain individuals? How often are people encourage to break bread together? Are there some that are never invited to anyone’s house? Do our actions bring opportunity for joy in the hearts of our fellow believers, or just one more rejection? Sadly enough there will likely be people that read these words and become upset that I would infer that such things happen in church. If that is you, I encourage you to wake up, because there are many people in many churches with these very feelings, feelings of being cast down, of being rejected, of having the ability to add value but not given the opportunity. If there are any at your church, you may not know it, but God knows, and He will always set things right, and when He sets it right, it can be a bit more abrupt. These words are not meant to condemn, it is a call to repentance by all (including me), for it is likely that to some degree we have all fallen short in provoking others to love and good works. I know I could do a better job of it. I know together we can all do a better job of it, but we must do it together.
Prayer
Father, we magnify You as the Most High God. We love and praise You for who You are, and how You are. We are so fragile Father, and we are around others that are fragile as well. It seems hard sometimes not to do something that causes harm, that causes people to want to separate themselves from the assembly. It just seems like it should not be hard to cause each other to be provoked to love and good works. Please help us today, Father, to find our way to the place where who we are, how we are, and what we say provokes others to love and good works. In Jesus name. Amen.