Did you enjoy meeting with the saints over the weekend? There is such joy in Christian fellowship, isn’t there? As we met together on Sunday and continued with Fellowship Lunch and sharing together, I realized again the power of our meeting together. Not only to pray for the leaders of our nation, which is our Number One Priority when we meet (1 Timothy 2:1-3). Not only to worship which is so glorious. Not only to hear the powerful, living Word of God which we so desperately need. But to fellowship with one another (Acts 2:42-47).
This is what church is all about. We know it’s not the building. It’s the people. It’s meeting together to share with one another, pray for one another, comfort one another, look out for one another, and bear one another’s burdens.
There were so many different ones in our fellowship who were facing obstacles, overwhelming challenges, needing guidance and so on. How can these needs be met in a zoom meeting? They can only be met as we gather around to lay hands on one another, pray for one another, bear their burdens with them, and minister our love to them. How can we discuss things and seek guidance and counsel in an on-line meeting? How can we even laugh together and have great discussions if we are not together?
No, God wants us to come together. We all know the Scriptures in Hebrews 10:24, 25: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” And how do we do this? “Not forsaking the assembly of ourselves TOGETHER, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.”
Psalm 122:3 states: “Jerusalem is builded as a city that is COMPACT TOGETHER.” Jerusalem speaks of God’s house and relates to us as we meet together. The Knox transition says: “Jerusalem, built as a city should be built that is one in fellowship. There the tribes meet, the Lord’s own tribes, to give praise.”
The HCSB says: “Jerusalem, built as a city should be, solidly joined together . . .”
It reminds me of Ephesians 4:15, 16 which speaks about the body of Christ. “Speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; From whom the whole body fitly JOINED TOGETHER and COMPACTED by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of EVERY PART, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Wow, that Scripture is a mouth full, isn’t it? We read the word COMPACTED in the Old Testament and in the New. It’s the opposite to social distancing, isn’t it?
But the truth of this Scripture only works as we come together, every joint ministering God’s love and truth and comfort to one another.
May we as families seek to make this happen in our church life.
Be blessed and encouraged.
Nancy Campbell