Good Morning All,
Hebrews
10:25; “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit
of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
At
least in South Dakota, we are approaching grilling season. A few of the heartier souls have been out
already. I received a new smoker grill
for Christmas and I am really ready to try it out; I am hoping next week will
work out. I admit that I am somewhat old
school; I prefer charcoal to gas or electric.
It requires a little more time and a little bit more skill but the
results are superior by far.
The tricky part is getting the coals to be
hot and achieve a uniform heat. In order
to get the coals started you usually have to stack them up and then gently
build the fire from the bottom and have the heat rise throughout the stack
until all the coals are glowing a bright red.
Then you spread them out evenly.
But it is important that they maintain contact with each other. It is kind of funny to watch. If one of those top coals, even if they start
out kind of hot, rolls off of the pile and rolls over to the corner of the
grill, it will soon cool down and soon the fire is gone.
Our faith life can be a lot like this. This is also why God invites you to come to
worship where the gathering of believers occurs. Through worship, God builds the heat in our
life in order to keep our faith burning.
It is by the gathering of the believers that we are nourished,
strengthened and renewed in our faith and in our soul. This is where we are best fed. This is where we are best restored and
rejuvenated.
Many will often ask if they have to go to church. They seem to think it is more of a hassle and
a waste of time. While it is not a
requirement of salvation, it is how God nourishes us and gives us the power to
grow our faith. It is through his
worship that we grow together as the body of Christ. It is where we have the consolation of the
brothers and sisters in Christ. It is here
where we make those connections with our fellow Christians that are so
necessary when pain and troubles occur.
It is also where we make those connections when we celebrate in God’s
goodness in our life.
God uses worship to help us grow and be
strong in order to face the devil and his assaults. It is to help us to have the certainty of
faith when we need it most. Worship is
for us to hear God’s Word and enjoy the comfort of his tender words of
forgiveness. It is a time when we, as
his redeemed children, come together to call upon his name. We call to him with our praise and adoration,
with our fears and concerns, praying for our brothers and sisters who are in
need. God brings us to worship to keep
our fire burning hot.
Gracious
Father, in you we have hope. Give us the
renewing source of that hope. Gather us
together that we may hear your word and receive your wonderful grace. Be with those who have turned a hardened
heart to your call to worship. Bring
them back into your arms. Stir in them
the desire to join in your worship and praise.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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