The Desire to Meet With the Saints

Be Strong, Be Well — Sunday April 5

(Continued from yesterday)

Today is the Lord’s Day. The day we have the privilege to worship God. I trust by now we all have our temporary routine in place where we stand before the throne of our Great God in the spirit of worship.

Lest someone misunderstand what I was saying yesterday, let me explain further.

Technology is a wonderful thing when we can be connected using such tools. Live-streaming or streaming prerecorded sermons, singing, or entire worship services, has been a blessing during these trying times. However, this is only a temporary solution to our situation. We should not begin to think this is something to replace our regular assemblies when things get back to normal.

Thinking outside of COVID19, for some people, streaming was/is their only option for worship. There are individuals and families in remote areas without a local congregation. Members who are confined to their homes (shut-ins, sick folks, and those caring for them) have this means to be connected with other brethren in worship.

Streaming cannot replace the social connection we experience when we physically meet with other Christians for public worship.

Even though Paul was connected in spirit with his brethren in distant places (Colossians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 5:3), he still longed to be with them physically. “But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire” (1 Thessalonians 2:17).

Our love for our brothers and sisters involves the desire to be with them in the assemblies (Acts 20:6, 7). In the context of Hebrews 10:24, 25 we find the words, “...consider one another in order to stir up love and good works..." and "...exhorting one another…”

Under normal circumstances, when there is a local congregation of the Lord’s people assembling together, those who are spiritual will have the desire to meet with them. —Chris