11-18-2017

Good Morning All,

                     Hebrews 10:24-25;” And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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.”

    We have many ways to use the word “church”.  It can be a place as in “I am going to church.” Or “The church is on Maple Street.”  It can mean an activity as in “what time is church?”  It can mean an institution as in “the church supports life ministries”. 

    But these all miss the meaning that Christ uses.  When Christ speaks of the church; he sometimes refers to it as a family, a loving and supportive family.  We are children of God and we are brothers and sisters of Christ and of each other.  And like a family, it is good to get together with each other.  It is a time to share the joy in the family.  We recently were given a grandson and look forward to a new daughter-in-law.  The whole family shares in that joy.  When a member of the family is sick, we gather to offer comfort.  When a family member dies, we gather to mourn together and to give each other hope.  We gather at holidays and share meals and gifts but mostly laughter and love.

   Now you never have to go to a family holiday event; you are still in the family but look at what you miss.  You miss the love and joy, the camaraderie and fellowship, the common history and future are all missed when we stay away from our family.

   The same is true of our Christian family; the church.  It is here that we receive the pronouncement of forgiveness; it is here we join in the holy meal; it is here where we find comfort and consolation when we need it and a place to share in joy when we feel it.  It is where we encourage one another and stir up love and good works just like our verse states.  So today, do not neglect to meet together; remember to worship the Lord with your family.

    There may be times when we fight or disagree, many families do.  There may even be times when we pull apart and hate each other.  We can be very spoiled children.  Yet God continues to call us back, to call us to a life of reconciliation to one another.  He calls us to live a life of love and forgiveness.  He even tells us to reconcile with our brother before we bring our gifts of offering and praise to him.  God would rather that we lived as a loving family than to spend hours in phony worship.  This is because true worship is one in which we join in love and fellowship.

    So don’t neglect to meet together.  There is value there.  There is healing and rejoicing; there is love and support.  There is forgiveness and there is hope.  Together, we can face anything.

Dear Father, we are often ungrateful children who bicker and fight with each other.  Forgive us and move us to be your holy family here on earth.  Let our love for each other point to You as the source of our love through Your grace.  This we ask in the Name of our Brother Jesus, Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret